Mossgiel Park Primary School
“Our school is no longer the same school it was. The energy, the connection, the way our staff turn up for each other. The School of Play has changed everything.”
Play-Powered
Wellbeing.
Helping people build happier, healthier and more connected lives through play.
Backed by La Trobe University · 25+ countriesScroll
WHO WE SERVE
THE PROBLEM WE SOLVE
“Most schools measure everything except what matters most: how students feel.”
- 1 in 3 students reports feeling disconnected from school
- Teacher burnout is at its highest recorded level
- Screen time replaced play, and nobody noticed
We built something about that. See what →
THE NUMBERSLoved by educators.
Loved by educators.
Used everywhere.
From kinder rooms in regional Victoria to international schools in Bangkok and Singapore. The numbers are real, the schools are real, the standards mapping is independent.
600+
Schools, workplaces & organisations
across 25+ countries
8,000+
Educators
reading every Monday
25
Countries
and counting
120,000+
Lessons taught
in the last 12 months
Backed by La Trobe University
Credentialled · Independently mapped
- Research-backed by La Trobe University
- Aligned with AITSL Standards
- Maps to Victorian Curriculum F–10
- Delivers Respectful Relationships
- CASEL Framework Aligned SEL
In rooms at schools like
Mossgiel Park Primary SchoolClyde Creek Primary SchoolPrecious Cargo Woodville ParkMayfield Early LearningThe Geelong CollegeBrauer CollegePresbyterian Ladies' CollegeSt Pats CollegeSt George Girls High SchoolOuyen P-12 CollegeTiwi Islands SchoolNIST International, BangkokSingapore American SchoolUWC East Campus SingaporeUWC South East AsiaShanghai American SchoolYokohama International SchoolSeoul Foreign SchoolDyatmika International SchoolAmerican Embassy School, New DelhiMossgiel Park Primary SchoolClyde Creek Primary SchoolPrecious Cargo Woodville ParkMayfield Early LearningThe Geelong CollegeBrauer CollegePresbyterian Ladies' CollegeSt Pats CollegeSt George Girls High SchoolOuyen P-12 CollegeTiwi Islands SchoolNIST International, BangkokSingapore American SchoolUWC East Campus SingaporeUWC South East AsiaShanghai American SchoolYokohama International SchoolSeoul Foreign SchoolDyatmika International SchoolAmerican Embassy School, New Delhi
Plus 500+ more across Australia, the UK, the US, and Aotearoa New Zealand.
FOR SCHOOLS
From kinder to Year 9, one connected curriculum.
25–40 weeks of play-based learning, mapped to 16 global standards. Designed by educators, validated by La Trobe University, with Respectful Relationships built in.
- Five-minute daily rituals
- Video tutorials per activity
- Family + student access
- AITSL-aligned PD hours
The frameworkFour daily practices.
Four daily practices.
One acronym.
Play · Exercise · Gratitude · Giving. Built by educators, validated by La Trobe University. Tap any card to go deeper.
From the fieldThe schools where
The schools where
play became how they do things.
From kindergarten to primary school, different paths, same outcome. Hear it from the educators themselves.
Clyde Creek Primary School
“Every staff member, every student, every family. This isn't a program at our school anymore. It's just how we do things.”
Precious Cargo Woodville Park
“It encourages children to communicate confidently, engages them through play-based experiences, and helps them build meaningful relationships with their peers.”
Mayfield Early Learning
“It provides a strong framework for meaningful play-based learning while still allowing educators to adapt experiences to the interests and needs of their children.”
Around the curriculumEverything that brings the
Everything that brings the
curriculum to life.
The PD academy, the app, books, podcast and free resources, all built to support the curriculum in your school.
AITSL
The Academy
Five-module certified pathway. VIT + AITSL aligned.
From $295→
Free
School of Play App
Daily play missions. Free for everyone.
5 min
Leadership Quiz
Connector, Creator, Challenger or Carer?
Free
ClassBreak
1,000+ brain-break games. 100,000+ teachers worldwide.
4 titles
Books
365 Days of Play, All Work No Play and more.
370+ eps
Energetic Radio
Conversations on play and wellbeing with educators, leaders and athletes.
Free
Free Resources
Downloadable PDFs, samples and starter packs.
Weekly
The Blog & Weekly Read
One play idea every Monday. Loved by 8,000+ educators, parents and leaders.
The receiptsThe proof we
The proof we
leave behind.
Independent research with La Trobe University, plus what participants tell us after a session. The kind of numbers that make principals, parents and CEOs stop scrolling.
01Happiness
30%
Happier
Self-reported by participants
02Vitality
40%
More energy
Self-reported, after one session
03Wellbeing
28%
Improved wellbeing
La Trobe research
04Connection
95%
Less loneliness
Self-reported, after one FunShop
La Trobe University research
Our work with La Trobe is now published research.
Two full-year studies with La Trobe University. The adult study is peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Play in Adulthood; the student study is in peer review now. Independent evidence that structured play moves the numbers that matter.
1Published study
+1 in peer reviewJournal of Play
in Adulthood
+1 in peer reviewJournal of Play
in Adulthood
Study 01 · Adults · Published
Adult FunShops professional development
A full-year study of our play-based professional development for adults, measuring wellbeing, energy and connection across the workforce.
Study 02 · Students · In peer review
Student agency & leadership through play
A full-year study of our student agency and leadership program, tracking autonomy, confidence and engagement in the classroom.
Free webinar · Watch today
The 6 Superpowers of Play.
Presented live by Dale Sidebottom & Paul Campbell
Screen time is quietly replacing connection, movement and conversation, in classrooms and at home. This free 50-minute session shows you how to win it back, without devices and without adding to your workload.
- Reduce stress, anxiety and emotional overload through play
- Get movement, energy and laughter back into the day
- Strengthen relationships at school and around the dinner table
- Build emotional regulation and resilience in kids and adults
Save my seat →Free · 50 minutes
Sessions start every 15 minutes
Sessions start every 15 minutes
TEDX DOCKLANDS
Watch the talk that started it all.
In this TEDx talk, Dale Sidebottom makes the case for why play is the missing piece in every school, workplace and family. It sparked a movement, and it's still spreading.
Conferences & events
Creating events people never forget.
Beyond schools, Dale and Paul take the stage at corporate keynotes, conferences and leadership summits worldwide, opening events, closing them, running breakout sessions or facilitating the whole day. Every session blends evidence, storytelling and practical strategies delegates can use from Monday morning, so your conference isn't measured by the applause, it's measured by what changes afterwards.
25+
Countries presented in
2012
Building culture since
1000s
Delegates connected
2
Speakers, one mission
Trusted by Mars, AON, L'Oréal, Monash Health, Redken and 500+ organisations across education, corporate, government, health and sport.
PDF · Free · No sign-up required
Global footprint
25+ countries. Every Australian state.
Over 1,000 workshops, keynotes and curriculum partnerships delivered across schools, corporates and governments worldwide.
AustraliaNew ZealandJapanSingaporeSouth KoreaThailandMalaysiaHong KongQatarKenyaIndia
Our philosophy
“Wellbeing happens when people lead it themselves, through play, not pressure.
Top-down programs fail. Surveys get ignored. Lectures don't land. We built The School of Play around a simpler idea: people change when they get to lead the change, and when the work feels like play.
Melbourne 2023
Ready to play?
Bring play to your school, your family, or your team.
Whether you're a teacher, a parent, or a leader, The School of Play has a path built for you. Start with a free demo, a free game, or a discovery call.
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GT
SM
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8,000+ educators, parents & leaders already playing in 25+ countries