About this program

Play is not just a simple activity. It is a complex process that provides a crucial context for children’s learning, health, and wellbeing. Its nuances are usually only discovered when educators, like you, begin wondering about play and exploring its benefits. This program will equip you with practical tools and strategies to understand and harness the power of play. 

The Play-based learning and intentionality program aims to:

  • Build knowledge and understanding, guiding reflection around what play is, why play is important, and how it contributes to learning
  • Explore educators' influence in supporting, promoting, or disrupting play
  • Guide effective planning for and implementation of play-based learning and intentionality through the planning cycle, noting that documentation occurs at every cycle stage, including observing, assessing, planning, and implementing
  • Embed best practice approaches supporting all children to reach their full potential through play-based learning with intentionality
  • Build capability and confidence in delivering differentiated educational practices in early childhood and out-of-school-hours care (OSHC) services, including to neurodivergent children


The program is aimed at educators and educational leaders of all experience levels who work in early childhood settings, including OSHC. Ideally, all educators and educational  leaders in a service will complete the program – educator, educational leader and team meeting guides are provided to support reflective practice.

All learning materials, including pre-recorded information sessions, are accessible through this Learning Management System (LMS). The LMS supports educational leaders and educators to progress through the program at their own pace.

From 2025, the program will be TQI accredited for 8 hours. For more information, see FAQs. 

Program curriculum

    1. Welcome and Overview of Course Materials

    2. Resource Guide for Educators

    3. Resource Guides for Educational Leaders

    4. Resource Guide for Team Meetings

    1. Welcome to Topic 1

    2. Guides - Topic 1

    3. Introduction Video

    4. Mini-module 1: Heatmap

    5. Mini-module 1 Video: What is Intentional Teaching When Working with Children's Play?

    6. Mini-module 1 Quiz: What is Intentional Teaching When Working with Children's Play?

    7. Mini-module 1: Heatmap

    8. Mini-module 1: Resource Library

    9. Mini-module 2 Video: The Intentional Pedagogue

    10. Mini-module 2 Quiz: The Intentional Pedagogue

    11. Mini-module 2: Resource Library

    12. Mini-module 3 Video: Exploring Play and Intentionality in The NQS

    13. Mini-module 3 Quiz: Exploring Play and Intentionality in The NQS

    14. Mini-module 3: Resource Library

    15. Mini-module 4: Heatmap

    16. Mini-module 4 Video: What is Curiosity and How do we Work with it?

    17. Mini-Module 4 Quiz: What is Curiosity and How do we Work with it?

    18. Mini-module 4: Heatmap

    19. Mini-module 4: Resource Library

    20. Mini-module 5 Video: Working with a Rights-Framed Approach in Play

    21. Mini-module 5 Quiz: Working with a Rights-Framed Approach in Play

    22. Mini-module 5: Resource Library

    23. Mini-module 6: Heatmap

    24. Mini-module 6 Video: Brain Development and its Impact on Play

    25. Mini-module 6 Quiz: Brain Development and its Impact on Play

    26. Mini-module 6: Heatmap

    27. Mini-module 6: Resource Library

    1. Welcome to Topic 2

    2. Guides - Topic 2

    3. Introduction Video

    4. Mini-module 1, Video Part 1: Understanding Play Cycle Theory: What Happens When Children Play

    5. Mini-module 1, Video Part 2: Understanding Play Cycle Theory: What Happens When Children Play

    6. Mini-module 1, Quiz 1: Play Cycle Theory

    7. Mini-module 1, Quiz 2: Play Cycle Scenario 1

    8. Mini-module 1, Quiz 3: Play Cycle Scenario 2

    9. Mini-module 1: Resource Library

    10. Mini-module 2 Video: The Educators’ Role in Supporting Play and Building Play Skills

    11. Mini-module 2 Quiz: The Educators’ Role in Supporting Play and Building Play Skills

    12. Mini-module 2: Resource Library

    13. Mini-module 3 Video: Responding to Curiosity Intentionally and Building the Skills of Inquiry

    14. Mini-module 3 Quiz: Responding to Curiosity Intentionally

    15. Mini-module 3: Resource Library

    16. Mini-module 4 Video: Understanding Play Deprivation/Deficit

    17. Mini-module 4 Quiz: Understanding Play Deprivation/Deficit

    18. Mini-module 4: Resource Library

    19. Mini-module 5 Video: Play and the Neurodivergent Child

    20. Mini-module 5 Quiz: Play and the Neurodivergent Child

    21. Topic 2 Completion!

    22. Mini-module 5: Resource Library

    1. Welcome to Topic 3

    2. Guides - Topic 3

    3. Introduction Video

    4. Mini-module 1, Video Part 1: Understanding Children's Intentions in Play

    5. Mini-module 1, Video Part 2: Understanding Children's Intentions in Play

    6. Mini-module 1, Quiz 1: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

    7. Mini-module 1, Quiz 2: Dispositions

    8. Mini-module 1, Quiz 3: General Knowledge

    9. Mini-module 1: Resource Library

    10. Mini-module 2 Video: Schemas and Children’s Play

    11. Mini-module 2: Heatmap

    12. Mini-module 2, Quiz 1: Schemas and Children’s Play

    13. Mini-module 2, Quiz 2: Schemas and Children’s Play

    14. Mini-module 2: Resource Library

    15. Mini-module 3 Video: Exploring Play and Intentionality in the Early Years Learning Framework V2.0

    16. Mini-module 3: Heatmap

    17. Mini-module 3 Quiz: Intentional Teaching

    18. Mini-module 3: Resource Library

    19. Mini-module 4 Video: What is Play and Why do Children do it?

    20. Mini-module 4: Heatmap

    21. Mini-module 4 Quiz: Understanding Play

    22. Mini-module 4: Resource Library

    23. Mini-module 5 Video: What is Learning Through Play?

    24. Mini-module 5: Heatmap

    25. Mini-module 5 Quiz: Place-Based Pedagogy

    26. Mini-module 5: Heatmap

    27. Mini-module 5: Resource Library

    1. Welcome to Topic 4

    2. Guides - Topic 4

    3. Introduction Video

    4. Mini-module 1, Video Part 1: Play Types – Bob Hughes

    5. Mini-module 1, Video Part 2: Play Types – Bob Hughes

    6. Mini-module 1 Quiz: Play Types – Bob Hughes

    7. Mini-module 1: Resource Library

    8. Mini-module 2 Video: Multimodal Play

    9. Mini-module 2 Quiz: Multimodal Play

    10. Mini-module 2: Resource Library

    11. Mini-module 3 Video: Loose Parts Play Provision in the Environment

    12. Mini-module 3 Quiz: Loose Parts Play Provision in the Environment

    13. Mini-module 3: Resource Library

    14. Mini-module 4 Video: Educator and Children’s Perceptions of the Environment

    15. Mini-module 4 Quiz: Educator and Children’s Perceptions of the Environment

    16. Mini-module 4: Resource Library

    17. Mini-module 5 Video: Working with Routines and Rituals When Creating Temporal Environments

    18. Mini-module 5 Quiz: Working with Routines and Rituals When Creating Temporal Environments

    19. Topic 4 Completion!

    20. Mini-module 5: Resource Library

    1. Welcome to Topic 5

    2. Guides - Topic 5

    3. Introduction Video

    4. Mini-module 1: Heatmap

    5. Mini-module 1, Part 1 Video: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation of Children’s Learning - Play

    6. Mini-module 1, Part 1 Quiz: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation - Play

    7. Mini-module 1, Part 2 Video: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation of Children’s Learning - Learning Through Play

    8. Mini-module 1, Part 2 Quiz: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation - Learning Through Play

    9. Mini-module 1, Part 3 Video: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation of Children’s Learning - Intentionality

    10. Mini-module 1, Part 3 Quiz: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation - Intentionality

    11. Mini-module 1, Part 4 Video: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation of Children’s Learning - Assessment

    12. Mini-module 1, Part 4 Quiz: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation - Assessment

    13. Mini-module 1, Part 5 Video: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation of Children’s Learning - Critical Reflection

    14. Mini-module 1, Part 5 Quiz: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation - Critical Reflection

    15. Mini-module 1, Part 6 Video: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation of Children’s Learning - Assessment Strategies

    16. Mini-module 1, Part 6 Quiz: Unpacking Concepts for Assessment and Evaluation - Assessment Strategies

    17. Mini-module 1: Heatmap

    18. Mini-module 1: Resource Library

    19. Mini-module 2 Video: Making Professional Judgements

    20. Mini-module 2 Quiz: Making Professional Judgements

    21. Mini-module 2: Resource Library

    22. Mini-module 3: Heatmap

    23. Mini-module 3 Video: The Cycle of Planning

    24. Mini-module 3 Quiz 1: The Cycle of Planning

    25. Mini-module 3 Quiz 2: The Cycle of Planning

    26. Mini-module 3: Heatmap

    27. Mini-module 3: Resource Library

About this program

  • Free
  • 129 lessons
  • 8.5 hours of video content

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