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Every child deserves to play fully. We put so much thought and heart into making that happen, and this week we want to bring that same energy when the bell rings.
For students with additional needs, play doesn't always feel like the free, joyful experience it should be. Without the right environment and a little intentional design, it can be isolating.
Inclusive play, done well, is one of the most beautiful things we have witnessed in a school community. Friendships form across differences, and students who once felt unseen start to find their place throughout the whole school. That belonging ripples into behaviour and into the culture your school carries every day.
The great news is that meaningful change doesn't have to be overwhelming. Small, thoughtful modifications in how play is designed and facilitated can make a world of difference for your students.
Today, we're exploring practical strategies that work whether you're teaching in one classroom or thinking about your whole school community. Let's get started!
ClassBreak
Want to give the whole class a fresh, shared experience daily? That's where ClassBreak shines.
With over 1,000 games, activities, and 100+ courses, all with videos, instructions, and printable PDFs, ClassBreak gives you an enormous library to draw from. The beauty of having that much variety at your fingertips is that you can find the right activity for the right moment and tailor it according to your students' needs and capacity.
Something calming and structured for students who need predictability, something high-energy and team-based for groups that need to reconnect, or something playful and low-stakes for a class that just needs to breathe.
ClassBreak works in the classroom, the gym, the hall, or outdoors. Activities need minimal equipment and are easy to set up.
It's currently ranked #46 in the Educational category on the App Store. Check it out here, and see why teachers keep coming back to it!
Yay, Nay, Let's Stay
Picture your whole class in a fun activity. Nobody's waiting for their turn. Everyone's in it, and everyone's having a blast. That's Yay, Nay, Let's Stay in action!
How it works:
Students form a circle and listen for one of three commands:
- Yay means jump forward
- Nay means jump backward
- Let's Stay means to spin around and face the other direction
The magic of this game is that inclusion is already baked in. For wheelchair users, the movements adjust naturally, such as a push forward, a roll back, and arms raised for the spin, so the experience stays shared.
Students who communicate non-verbally can gesture, clap, or point their way through every round, without changing a thing for the rest of the group.
Yay, Nay, Let's Stay comes straight from The School of Play's Special Education curriculum, built to make play-based learning genuinely accessible for every student, every single day.
Learn more about how it supports deep learning and genuine inclusion across your whole school!
The Five C's for Building Confidence with Dale Hancock
Inclusive play isn't just about physical access, but making sure every student feels capable and confident enough to show up in the first place.
Dale Hancock knows that feeling of not quite fitting in better than most. Diagnosed with dyslexia late in university, blindsided by six life-changing events in his late twenties, he found himself without the tools and the confidence to cope. School had never given him either. So he found a coach, did the deep work, and rebuilt, eventually swinging from a rope 50 metres above the ocean on an ITV game show in Malta to win the entire competition.
The confidence he built became a framework used in schools worldwide—now it's yours to share with your students to help them find their footing and step forward.
Dale's work is a reminder that confidence is something every child can build.
Access the webinar on Jugar Life - Courses and discover how participation stops feeling like a risk and starts feeling like something worth trying!
Play Without Limits
Kicking off something special! The team at The School of Play had the absolute privilege of launching the 2026 Muscular Dystrophy Australia camp for the second year running… and wow, what an honour.
Our brief was simple: Connect people, create comfort, break down barriers, and set the tone for an epic weekend ahead. And that’s exactly what unfolded.
There was laughter, openness, vulnerability, and connection in the room. People letting their guards down, stepping into the moment, and embracing the power of play to build real relationships.
A huge shoutout to Muscular Dystrophy Australia for the incredible work you do supporting families and young people in this community. To the volunteer carers who give their time, energy, and heart to make weekends like this possible, you are the magic behind it all.
We absolutely loved every second. Same time next year? We’re in 💕
Join us on this global journey of joy and connection! If you want to bring The School of Play to your community, fill out the form here ➡
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