Early Childhood Education Glossary and Terms

The early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector in Australia is complex and there is a range of terms that may be unfamiliar to people who are new to the sector. Whether you’re an aspiring future educator or a parent who’s ready to embark on the child care journey, we have compiled a list of some key terms to help you navigate your experience in ECEC.

Long Day Care (LDC)

Family day care (FDC)

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

Kindergarten/Preschool

Educator

Centre Manager

Early Childhood Teacher (ECT)

Ratio

Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Gap fees

Waitlist

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

National Quality Framework (NQF)

Play-based learning

Inclusion

Pedagogy

Literacy

Numeracy

Agency

Loose parts play