Inspiring Play Spaces is a practical, self-paced online course designed for early childhood educators, leaders, and students. Grounded in evidence-based practice and aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), this course provides the tools and knowledge to design engaging play-based environments that promote children’s learning and development.
Through the STANCE model, you’ll learn how to create purposeful indoor and outdoor spaces that inspire curiosity, support exploration, and foster meaningful learning. Whether you’re setting up a new classroom, enhancing an existing space, or rethinking your approach to early learning environments, this course equips you with practical strategies that reflect best practice in early childhood education.
This course is ideal for early childhood professionals who want to create more engaging, purposeful, and developmentally appropriate learning environments. It’s designed to support educators at every stage of their career, including:
Early Childhood Educators and Teachers
Learn practical strategies for setting up play-based spaces that promote exploration, creativity, and child-led learning.
Centre Directors and Educational Leaders
Support your team in designing environments that align with the EYLF, promote quality improvement, and reflect your centre’s philosophy.
Practice Mentors and Pedagogical Leaders
Strengthen your ability to guide and support educators in implementing best practice learning environments.
Student Teachers and Early Career Educators
Build foundational knowledge in early childhood environment design and gain confidence in applying play-based learning principles.
Whether you’re working in a long day care centre, preschool, kindergarten, or family daycare setting, this course offers relevant, evidence-based professional development tailored to the early years.
The Inspiring Play Spaces course is delivered entirely online in a flexible, self-paced format — making it ideal for busy early childhood professionals.
You’ll have 24/7 access to the course materials, including videos, practical examples, downloadable resources, and reflection prompts. Learn on your schedule, from any device, without compromising on depth or quality.
This professional learning is suitable for:
Individual educators looking to upskill in play-based learning and environment design
Teams completing the course as part of ongoing professional development
Centres seeking training that aligns with EYLF and National Quality Standard goals
Whether you prefer to complete the course independently or as part of a team-based initiative, you’ll gain practical strategies that can be applied immediately in your early learning setting.
The Inspiring Play Spaces course is grounded in evidence-based pedagogy and directly aligns with key national frameworks and quality standards in early childhood education.
Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF V2.0)
This course supports educators in creating learning environments that reflect the EYLF’s principles, practices, and outcomes. You'll explore how thoughtful space design fosters belonging, being, and becoming — supporting each child’s identity, wellbeing, and learning journey.
National Quality Standard (NQS)
The course addresses several Quality Areas, including:
QA1: Educational Program and Practice – Environments that support intentional teaching and child-led learning
QA3: Physical Environment – Safe, inclusive, and stimulating spaces that promote exploration and challenge
QA5: Relationships with Children – Environments that nurture positive interactions and collaborative play
By applying the STANCE model, you’ll design play-based learning spaces that are not only inspiring but also demonstrate a strong commitment to high-quality early childhood practice.
This course is designed for early childhood educators, room leaders, centre directors, practice advisors, and student teachers who want to create meaningful, play-based learning environments. Whether you’re new to the profession or looking to refresh your space, the course provides practical strategies grounded in current best practice.
Yes. The content aligns with the principles, practices, and learning outcomes of the EYLF, with a strong focus on intentional teaching, learning environments, and holistic child development.
Once enrolled, you’ll receive 8 weeks of access to the course materials, including videos, downloadable resources, and reflection tools. Learn at your own pace, whenever it suits you.
The course is delivered entirely online and is fully self-paced. You can access modules on any device — desktop, tablet, or mobile — at any time.
Yes. Upon successful completion of all modules, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion, which can be used as evidence of ongoing professional development in early childhood education.
Absolutely. We support group enrolments for early learning services, centres, or organisations. Please contact our team for group discounts or tailored access packages.
Yes. The strategies and principles taught in this course are applicable across all early childhood settings, including family daycare, long day care, and kindergarten programs.
The STANCE model (Senses, Textures, Aesthetics, Nature, Contrast, Elevation) is a framework for designing engaging learning environments. It guides educators in creating sensory-rich, developmentally appropriate spaces that foster exploration, creativity, and connection.
Once enrolled, you will have access to our student support team via email or phone.
Phone calls can be made on all weekdays except for all Victorian public holidays.
Monday: 9:00am – 4:00pm.
Tuesday: 9:00am – 4:00pm.
Wednesday: 9:00am – 4:00pm.
Thursday: 9:00am – 4:00pm.
Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm.
Saturday: No Phone Support.
Sunday: No Phone Support.
Emails may be sent at a time that best suits the learner, and we encourage any student needed support to reach out via email whenever it best suits them. Our student support team will endeavour to reply via email within 48 hours of the email being read.
Please note: Long weekends may affect these response times.
Our trainers will also be there to help you on the day during any face to face study component.
Join us now and unlock a world of opportunities. Don’t wait – start your transformative journey today!
Making Education acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first people of the nation and the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and play. We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and families and recognise their continuing connection to Culture, Land, Water, and Community and we pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. Making Education celebrates and welcomes people from all cultures, religions, spiritualities, ages, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities & backgrounds and will ensure that all children and their families will be supported to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights.
