The School of Play
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The World's First Global Play-Based Wellbeing Curriculum
25–40 weeks of activities, mapped to 16 global curriculum standards, Social-Emotional Learning (CASEL) and Respectful Relationships. Designed by educators, researched with La Trobe University.
New 2026La Trobe University research: average student vitality up 9.7% in eight weeks (preliminary finding)Dale & Paul walk you through a teacher's first lesson setup, the dashboard, the video tutorials, the family take-home, the standards mapping. Two minutes from opening the platform to ready-to-teach.
The School of Play curriculum runs in classrooms, conferences and campuses across Australia, Asia and beyond.
Here's what a typical week looks like in a Grade 3–4 classroom: Play, Exercise, Gratitude, Giving, Reflect. Adapted up and down for every age group.
Cooperative game: Mirror Mirror. Builds focus, attention, social attunement.
Movement break: Lava Floor. Quick energy reset between literacy and numeracy.
Three-circle journal: who, what, why. Builds emotional vocabulary.
Random act challenge: pair up, give a class member a thoughtful compliment.
Weekly circle: what went well, what we noticed, what we want to try next week.
Two 2026 La Trobe University theses identify seven established psychological theories behind The School of Play. Every week turns them into games, movement, gratitude and giving that your teachers can run tomorrow, in five minutes a day.
Motivation and wellbeing grow when three needs are met: autonomy (choice), competence (feeling capable) and relatedness (connection).
In the curriculum: Playful challenges, real choices and collaboration in every week.
Joy and interest broaden how children think and act, and repeated positive experiences build lasting psychological and social resources.
In the curriculum: Laughter, movement, gratitude and shared enjoyment are built in on purpose, not saved as a reward.
Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making can be taught and practised.
In the curriculum: All five CASEL competencies, practised through play rather than worksheets.
Belonging is a fundamental human need, and positive, ongoing relationships are essential to wellbeing.
In the curriculum: Shared games, partner activities and inclusive group challenges every week.
Resilience is built from individual skills plus supportive relationships and environments, not personality alone.
In the curriculum: Manageable challenges, setbacks and teamwork, with reflection afterwards.
Children develop through the classrooms, peers, teachers and communities around them.
In the curriculum: Teacher-led, inside everyday classrooms, so the environment changes with the child.
Play drives exploration, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving, yet it fades from school after the early years.
In the curriculum: Structured, age-appropriate play from Kindergarten to Year 9.
The PEGG framework translates complex psychology into practical activities teachers deliver in everyday school life. Play is not an interruption to learning. It is one of the ways learning happens.
The “wider research” figures come from the broader literature cited in the two 2026 La Trobe University honours theses (Pearce, 2026; Mirabella, 2026). They describe that research, not outcomes measured in The School of Play evaluations.
25–40 weeks of activities per age group, mapped to 16 global curriculum standards, SEL (CASEL) and Respectful Relationships.
Built around sensory exploration and joyful movement. Every session introduces the four PEGG practices through age-appropriate games, songs and circle rituals. SEL focus: emotional vocabulary, impulse control and making friends through play. Respectful Relationships content covers body safety, consent and kindness, woven naturally into every game.
Storytelling, cooperative games and imaginative movement form the backbone of this level. SEL focus: identifying emotions, building empathy and developing friendship skills through structured play scenarios. Respectful Relationships content covers recognising feelings, understanding fairness and practising inclusive language.
Cooperative challenges, healthy competition and mindfulness rituals. Students begin leading games and reflecting on group dynamics. SEL focus: self-management, responsible decision-making and managing conflict constructively. Respectful Relationships covers respectful communication, gender equality and navigating peer pressure through play.
Leadership, peer mentoring and transition preparation. Students design and lead activities for younger year levels. SEL focus: self-awareness, social awareness and preparing for secondary school. Respectful Relationships covers healthy relationships, consent, digital wellbeing and supporting peers, content that bridges primary and secondary realities.
Identity, resilience and mental health literacy. Activities address the social pressures of adolescence through safe, play-based exploration. SEL focus: emotional regulation, belonging and building authentic confidence. Respectful Relationships covers healthy vs. unhealthy dynamics, online boundaries, bystander skills and help-seeking behaviour.
Sensory-aware, inclusive and adaptive. Every activity has three modification levels so educators can meet students exactly where they are. SEL focus: communication, co-regulation, connection and joy for students with diverse learning needs. Respectful Relationships content is visual-led and simplified, designed in partnership with special education specialists.
Every curriculum runs between 25 and 40 weeks. Each one integrates Respectful Relationships components designed to build positive connections, emotional literacy, empathy and social skills.
Wherever you teach, the curriculum fits.
Everything a principal, wellbeing lead or curriculum coordinator needs to understand what the Play-Based Wellbeing Curriculum is, how it works and why it lands, in one shareable document. Print it, forward it, bring it to the meeting.
PDF · Free · No sign-up required
All prices AUD · per school · per year
Up to 80 students
80–200 students
200–500 students
500+ students
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Real answers, real humans.
No bots, no run-arounds.
Every School of Play activity maps to learning intentions across literacy, numeracy, PE, health and SEL. We can show you the exact alignment for your jurisdiction and year level.
Yes. Every annual licence includes family access, so the play continues at home, and parents get visibility into what their child is doing in class.
Five minutes is the minimum daily ritual. Most teachers find a 15-minute slot once or twice a week for the longer cooperative activities. The whole curriculum fits inside what you're already teaching.
Yes. It's woven into every age group from Kindergarten to Year 9, scaled appropriately for each developmental stage.
Two 2026 La Trobe University honours theses, at Keilor Views Primary School (Grades 3–4) and McKinnon Secondary College (Year 8), identify seven established research foundations behind the curriculum, including Self-Determination Theory, Broaden-and-Build Theory and Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). Both studies ran in real classrooms with the students' own teachers. The most encouraging finding was a 9.7% descriptive increase in average student vitality at Keilor Views after eight weeks; it was a preliminary result and not statistically significant, and the researchers recommend larger, longer studies, which we are committed to.
Tell our lesson designer about your class and get a complete play lesson, free, in seconds. Then book a demo to see the full curriculum.
