Play-Based Professional Development for Early Childhood Settings
Providing a rich, play-based environment for effective learning in Early childhood settings.
It maybe easy to know what play based learning is and maybe you understand why it is an important approach.
I give you the how.
What is Play Based Learning?
Play-based learning is an educational approach where children learn through exploration, experimentation, and hands-on activity. Rather than sitting still and following instructions, children engage with materials, environments, and other people in ways that are meaningful to them. They build knowledge by doing, not just by being told.
Research in neuroscience tells us that young children's brains develop most effectively when they are active, engaged, and emotionally secure. Play creates exactly these conditions. When a child builds a tower from wooden blocks, they are developing spatial awareness, problem-solving, fine motor control, and mathematical thinking simultaneously. When two children negotiate roles in an imaginative game, they are practising language, empathy, self-regulation, and social skills.
Play-based learning is not about leaving children to do whatever they want. It requires skilled practitioners who understand child development, who can design rich environments, and who know when to step in and when to step back. That balance between freedom and intentional teaching is what makes it powerful.
“Truly inspirational and very practical.”
“Her insights have sparked meaningful discussions among our staff and inspired a renewed sense of creativity and innovation in our approach to teaching and learning.”
“Tricia’s visit left our community both inspired and better equipped to nurture a vibrant learning environment.”
“You have made me reflect more on allowing the children to lead me in the play and let them think rather than trying to jump in!”
Who is Play Practitioners For?
Play Practitioners works with educators and school leaders who want to put play at the heart of their practice but need practical guidance to make it happen. Whether you are building a play based curriculum from scratch or looking to strengthen what you already have, Tricia can help.
The training and consultations are designed for:
International early years settings
who want to implement or improve play-based learning across their foundation stage. Many international schools follow a UK-style curriculum but lack access to UK-based CPD. Play Practitioners bridges that gap.
Nurseries and preschools
where teams want to move beyond worksheets and teacher-directed activities towards a child-led, play-rich approach.
School leaders and EYFS coordinators
who need to upskill their entire team with a consistent understanding of play-based pedagogy, observation, and planning.
Individual practitioners
who want to build confidence in specific areas such as woodwork, mud kitchen, cooking, story scribing, or designing a workshop-style environment.
Parents and Homeschoolers
who want to understand how play supports their child's development and how they can extend learning at home.
How We Work With You
Every school and setting is different. That is why Play Practitioners does not offer a one-size-fits-all programme. Instead, Tricia works with you through a structured process that respects the unique context of your team, your children, and your environment.
Step 1: A conversation. It starts with a chat. Tricia listens to where you are now, what challenges you face, and what you want to achieve. This might be a 30-minute video call or an email exchange. There is no obligation and no hard sell.
Step 2: A tailored plan. Based on that conversation, Tricia designs a training or consultation package that fits your needs. For whole team consultations, this is built around 5 key elements: the team ethos, the learning environment, resourcing, planning and assessment, and building independent learners.
Step 3: Hands-on delivery. Training is practical, not theoretical. Whether it is an online CPD course or an in-person consultation at your school, participants leave with tools, strategies, and resources they can use immediately. Tricia brings real classroom experience, not abstract frameworks.
Step 4: Reflection and action. Every session includes time for deep reflection. Your team will create an action plan for change, with clear next steps and the confidence to follow through. Tricia does not just inspire and leave. She equips you to sustain the changes long after the training ends.
What Your Team Will Gain
Schools and settings that work with Play Practitioners see real, lasting changes in their practice. Here is what you can expect:
Confident practitioners. Your team will understand the "why" behind play-based learning, not just the "what". That deeper understanding builds the confidence to make professional decisions in the moment, rather than relying on rigid lesson plans.
Engaged, independent children. When the environment is designed well and practitioners know how to step back at the right time, children take ownership of their learning. They explore, investigate, and problem-solve without waiting for adult direction.
A purposeful learning environment. Your physical space will be transformed into a workshop-style environment where every resource has a purpose, and children can access what they need independently. The environment becomes what educators call "the third teacher".
Stronger observation and assessment skills. Your team will learn how to observe children with intention, recognise what they see, and use those observations to plan meaningful next steps. Observation is the foundation of responsive, child-led practice.
A whole team ethos. Play-based learning only works when everyone is on the same page. The consultation process brings your entire team together around a shared vision, shared language, and shared commitment to putting children at the centre.
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Introductory courses
These one hour courses give you an introduction to a specific area of the environment. They are designed for individuals or for the entire team.
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Team Consultations
Do you want engaged, independent children who have their innate thirst to learn?
This consultation involves the entire team.
Why Play Practitioners?
Play Practitioners was founded by Tricia Mohamed, a UK-qualified teacher with over 25 years of experience working in early years education in London and internationally. Tricia has spent her career inside classrooms, not observing from the outside. She has built learning environments, trained teams, supported children, and navigated the real challenges that early years educators face every day.
That practical experience is what sets Play Practitioners apart. The training is grounded in the latest research on play and neuroscience, but it is always filtered through the lens of what actually works in a busy classroom with real children, real budgets, and real time pressures.
Tricia takes a "glocal" approach, combining global research and best practice with a deep respect for the local context of each setting. Whether your school is in London, Dubai, Shanghai, or Kuala Lumpur, the training is adapted to your specific environment, your team's existing knowledge, and the cultural context in which your children are growing up.
The Skill of Observation
It was lovely speaking to Angelica Celinska from The Voice of Early Childhood about the role of observation in Early Childhood Education.
Listen to me talking about how to gain a holistic view of the child and how that informs the decisions you make as a practitioner.
I talk about the importance of:
1. Slowing down
2. Providing an environment which gives children independent learning opportunities
3. Continuous discussions with the team so that biases may be ironed out
4. Using birth to five matters as guidance - it is NOT a tick list
5. Focussing on what the child CAN do
"Observation is there to help me understand the child's unique abilities and to give me an insight on how I can support that child further in their learning"
Read my reflection on how quality observations reveal deep understanding of a child’s unique abilities, and how we can see observations from a new perspective.
Potential
I can create a learning environment that unlocks a child's potential for learning with joy and freedom.
You will grow in confidence and be able to unlock your teaching potential.
Nurture
I will advocate for the child based on science and recent research.
I will nurture your teaching practice by giving you a space for reflection and action.
Unique
I will guide you in creating your unique environment through reflections. and observations of your unique setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the online courses and the in person consultations?
The online courses are one-hour introductory sessions that focus on a specific area, such as woodwork, mud kitchen, or story scribing. They cost £50 per delegate and are designed for individuals or small teams. The in-person consultations are bespoke, whole team experiences where Tricia visits your school and works with your entire early years team across the 5 key elements. The consultation is tailored to your setting and includes time for reflection and action planning.
Do you work with international schools?
Yes. Play Practitioners specialises in working with international early years settings. Tricia has extensive experience adapting play-based learning approaches for diverse cultural contexts and multilingual teams. Consultations can be arranged at your school, wherever you are in the world.
How do I know if my setting is ready for play based learning?
Every setting is ready. The starting point is different for every school, and that is perfectly fine. Some teams are just beginning to explore play-based approaches. Others have a strong foundation but want to deepen their practice. Tricia meets you where you are and works with your team to take the next step forward.
What age groups do you work with?
Play Practitioners focuses on the early years, typically children from birth to seven years old. The training and consultations are designed for practitioners working in nurseries, reception classes, and foundation stages in both the UK and international settings.
How do I book a consultation or course?
Start by contacting us through the contact page. Tricia will arrange a conversation to understand your needs, and from there she will recommend the best option for your team. There is no obligation and no pressure.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready to Transform Your Early Years Setting?
Whether you are looking for a one hour CPD course to build confidence in a specific area or a bespoke consultation to transform your entire early years team, Play Practitioners can help.
Tricia has spent 25 years helping educators and schools create environments where children learn through play with joy, purpose, and independence. Let that experience work for you.
Get in touch to start the conversation.