Play Based Learning Observation Tool
(P-BLOT)

 

The Play-Based Learning Observation Tool (P-BLOT) is designed to bridge the gap between the belief of child-centred learning and the practical implementation of these principles in everyday classrooms.

The P-BLOT empowers school leaders and coaches to support teachers, ensuring classroom practices align with evidence-based child-centered learning, enhancing student engagement and outcomes.

The P-BLOT empowers teachers to implement child-centered learning with practical support. It shifts teachers from a dictatorial, traditional pedagogy to facilitators of agentic learning, supporting engagement and autonomy. This approach improves all student outcomes and boosts teacher wellbeing and professional satisfaction by aligning daily practices with child-led learning principles.

At the heart of Longworth Education’s approach is a robust pedagogical framework that integrates child-led learning, explicit instruction, and culturally sustaining practices. This framework is now being implemented across diverse contexts, with growing demand from school leaders and educators seeking to respond meaningfully to the complex needs of today’s learners.

Future Intentions and Next Steps:

• International Expansion of In-School Coaching: Building on proven success in New Zealand, Longworth Education is scaling its in-school coaching model across Australia and Canada. Virtual support is ongoing in contexts including Nigeria and India. This involves supporting schools with embedded professional learning that aligns with local curriculum and community needs.

• Framework Implementation in the UK: Plans are in the early stage of introducing the Longworth pedagogical framework to UK schools. This initiative will be tailored to address local system pressures while providing a viable alternative to rigid, test-driven models of education.

• Support for Neurodiverse Communities: A core future focus is supporting neurodiverse students and their families through the delivery of neuro affirming, trauma-informed pedagogies. Longworth Education is actively developing partnerships and resources to ensure education environments are inclusive, developmentally appropriate, and affirming of diverse ways of being and learning.

 

• Political Advocacy and Research: In partnership with the Aotearoa Educators’ Collective, Longworth Education is engaged in ongoing research and advocacy for child-centred pedagogy. This includes influencing national education policy to ensure that curriculum design and implementation reflect developmentally expected, evidence-informed practices that genuinely serve all learners.

Through these efforts, Longworth Education remains committed to building an education system that nurtures curiosity, honours identity, and equips learners with the creativity and capability to thrive in a complex world.

“This endorsement reflects our shared commitment to transforming education in ways that honour children’s natural curiosity, cultural identity, and right to lead their own learning journey. It is not just a badge of recognition—it is a partnership in advocacy. It places the P-BLOT among a global network of educators, researchers, and organisations working together to build a more humane, equitable education system.

For educators and leaders, this endorsement offers reassurance that the P-BLOT meets high international standards for practice-based tools and that it supports meaningful classroom change—grounded in what we know about how children learn best. For Longworth Education, it’s an invitation to keep contributing to a movement that places children and teachers at the heart of educational reform.”