The Learn To Play Approach for Early Educators (2 Day ONLINE Workshop): 9:30am – 3:30pm, Thurs 8 – Fri 9 May, 2025
Presented by Dr Siobhan Casey
*Start and end times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, UTC+10:00
3x ONLINE Q&A follow up sessions: 2:00pm – 3:30pm on Thurs 22 May, Thurs 29 May, Thurs 5 June, 2025.
Presented by Dr Siobhan Casey
*Start and end times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, UTC+10:00
ABOUT
Many children come to kindergarten who are not yet ready to learn. For some children it becomes clear over their time at kindergarten that they are not ready for school and need extra resources or extra time at kindergarten. The Learn To Play Approach for Early Educators is designed to support early educators in developing a deeper understanding of pretend play, how the complex skill of pretend play develops for children, and why pretend play is important for literacy, narrative understanding, social competence, and self-regulation.
The Learn To Play Approach for Early Educators includes a 2 Day Online Workshop, plus 3x Online Q&A follow up sessions; 1.5hrs per session. The Learn To Play Approach for Early Educators (2 Day Online Workshop) is a practical workshop that takes teachers through the Pretend Play Checklist for Teachers with case studies for practice. The Pretend Play Checklist for Teachers is an assessment tool designed to assist teachers to observe and report on the pretend play ability of children in their care. It provides a framework to assist teachers to identify targeted activities at kindergarten, highlights information to pass onto parents, and allows for specific observations of a child’s play to inform report writing and transition statements. The Pretend Play Checklist for Teachers (PPC-T) Manual and Pack of PPC-T Assessment Scoring Forms will be posted to all registrants prior to the workshop. The Manual provides in depth information on the development of pretend play, how to score and how to interpret. The Assessment Scoring Form is for the teacher to score each child’s play ability. For convenience it has a brief summary of the play skills by level and space for scoring the play skills. There is also space for comments. The recently released book, Learning Through Play in the Primary School: The Why and the How for Teachers and School Leaders, by Louise Paatsch, Siobhan Casey, Amity Green, Karen Stagnitti, is also included and will be posted to registrants prior to the workshop.
The workshop provides for small group work to design play activities within group settings and to identify how these play activities build foundational skills for children’s school readiness.
DAY 1: Foundation, 9:30am – 3:30pm, Thursday 8 May, 2025
*Start and end times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, UTC+10:00
9:30 – 11:30am: Introducing the Learn To Play Framework for understanding pretend play
20 min break
11:50am – 1:20pm: Pretend Play and The Brain
40 min break
2:00 – 3:30pm: Understanding Assessment using the Pretend Play Checklist for Teachers
DAY 2: Principles and Planning, 9:30 – 3:30pm, Friday 9 May, 2025
*Start and end times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, UTC+10:00
9:30 – 11:30am: What is Learn To Play
20 min break
11:50am – 1:20pm: Video analysis of Learn To Play and explore the play skills
40 min break
2:00 – 3:30pm: Approach planning and implementation
3x ONLINE Q&A follow up sessions: 2:00pm – 3:30pm on Thurs 22 May, Thurs 29 May, Thurs 5 June, 2025.
*Start and end times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, UTC+10:00
The 3x Online Q&A follow up sessions (1.5hrs per session) begin approximately three weeks from the date of the 2 Day Online Workshop. These sessions are designed to consolidate the information covered in the workshop, allowing for educators who have begun implementing the Learn To Play Approach in their Kindergarten to ask questions.
First Q&A follow up session: Understanding assessment – exploring the PPCT further
2:00pm – 3:30pm, Thursday 22 May, 2025
Second Q&A follow up Session: Supporting self-regulation through play
2:00pm – 3:30pm, Thursday 29 May, 2025
Third Q&A follow up session: Building social competence
2:00pm – 3:30pm, Thursday 5 June, 2025
PRESENTER’S PROFILE – DR SIOBHAN CASEY
Dr. Siobhan Casey is a paediatric occupational therapist and Masters qualified play therapist with 18 years of experience in working with children, their families and teachers in a variety of settings. In 2018, Siobhan was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy under the supervision of Emeritus Prof. Karen Stagnitti. Her research primarily focused on understanding the developmental processes of pretend play and self- regulation in supporting the capacity of resilience. Her prior research included identifying important markers and processes for change, for neurodivergent children participating in Learn To Play. Siobhan has presented on pretend play development at conferences both nationally and internationally and enjoys delivering training to a wide range of audiences. She has previously worked in early intervention community settings, private practice and, both mainstream and specialist development schools. She is passionate about promoting positive social and emotional wellbeing for children through providing services that are appropriate, purposeful, and sensitive to the needs of children and their families. Siobhan has recently co-authored a book ‘Learning Through Play in the Primary School’ and continues to research the role of play in supporting child development and building positive relationships.
Group Discounts for The Learn To Play Approach for Kindergarten Teachers Training
For organisations registering 4-6 participants for the training, a 10% discount applies. For 7-9 participants, a 20% discount will apply, and for organisations registering 10 or participants, a 30% discount applies. To apply for the discount please email Jessica directly at learntoplayevents@gmail.com.
Cancellation and refund policy
Please notify Jessica of any cancellations by email: learntoplayevents@gmail.com.
To receive a full refund please advise your cancellation 8 or more days prior to the commencement of the workshop.
Cancellations made within 7 days prior to the commencement of the workshop will be refunded 50% of the original workshop fee paid.
No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 48 hours before the commencement of the workshop.
Learn to Play reserves the right to cancel the workshop and issue a full refund of the workshop fee to registrant.