What does it take to move beyond pockets of play to a whole-school culture where play is central to learning - every day, for every child? In this practical and inspiring webinar, hear directly from primary school leaders, a classroom teacher, and professional learning providers who have led the implementation of play pedagogy in New Zealand schools using the P-BLOT™ professional development framework.
This panel will unpack what it means to turn aspirational goals into observable practices, share strategies for leading change through coaching and collaboration, and explore how explicit curriculum goals, especially in literacy and numeracy, can be powerfully supported through play.
Whether you're a teacher looking for concrete practices to try, or a school leader planning for sustainable change, you’ll leave with real-world insights, implementation examples, and the leadership moves that support successful, whole-school adoption of play pedagogy.
WEBINAR RECORDING
Key takeaways:
- Concrete classroom practices that support play and curriculum alignment
- Coaching strategies and leadership conditions for meaningful change
- Evidence of impact and lessons learned from whole-school implementation
This is not play as a break from learning, it’s play as the way we do learning.
Moderator:
Dr Sarah Aiono – Co-author of the PBLOT™ framework, HundrED Innovator, and CEO of Longworth Education
Panel Members:
- James White – Principal, Whakamaru School, New Zealand
- Melanie Dean – Principal, Lyall Bay School, New Zealand
- Gareth Cunliffe – Principal, Ōtonga Road School, New Zealand
- Sue Bewley – Professional Development Facilitator, Longworth Education
- Anne Rush – Junior School Team Leader, Northcote Primary School, New Zealand