Drama and imaginative play training and resources for Early Years practitioners
Since 2005, we’ve trained hundreds of practitioners how to use our techniques and resources to develop children's life skills. We offer both online and in-person training options, all of which:
- Are appropriate for everyone – even those who are naturally shy
- Are underpinned by the DfE professional development standards
- Have been rated 5* by teachers, students, EYPs, EYOs and other early years professionals
Our techniques and resources enable early years practitioners across the UK to deliver the current requirements of their curriculum - the National Curriculum (England), Curriculum for Wales, and The Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland), and to deliver engaging content that supports the areas of learning.
All of our techniques work for children aged 3 - 5, many of our resources have been developed for children from around 2, and many older children respond eagerly to our approach.
Download our comprehensive training brochure here.
DEVELOP CHILDREN'S LIFE SKILLS
UNICEF, WHO, and UNESCO all list problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, decision-making, creative thinking, interpersonal skills, self-awareness, empathy, coping with stress, and managing emotions as the ten core skills children need to lead happy, healthy and successful lives.
We can teach you how to target the development of these exact skills in your preschool children, using our tried and tested approach and our award-winning resources.
SHY? DISLIKE DRAMA?
Many people start their training feeling shy, self-conscious, or unable to imagine themselves ever 'doing drama' with young children. This doesn't last long! Our trainers are highly skilled at putting practitioners at ease and we promise that because our techniques are easy to master, and don't require anyone to be a 'good actor', even the most reticent will soon feel confident, excited, and ready to integrate our approach into their practice.
OUR COURSES
‘An Introduction to Early Years Imaginative Play’
Learn how to lead children in imaginative play using two powerful techniques. 2021 '4* Winner' in the Teach Early Years awards (CPD category).
‘Dip into Drama’ MOST POPULAR
Learn how to deliver our 20min drama lesson plans (our 'adventures') using three powerful Pyjama Drama techniques. Benefit from a year's access to our huge range of topic-based lesson plans. 'Highly Commended' in the 2022 Teach Early Years awards (Creative Play category).
‘How to Become an Expert in Early Years Imaginative Play’
Learn how to lead children in imaginative play using six powerful techniques and integrate them into your daily practice. Shortlisted for the Teach Early Years awards, 2020 and 2021 (CPD category) Optional: Become a Pyjama Drama accredited play expert!
Bespoke training
Talk to us about your training needs and let us create the perfect training package for you / your team.
WHICH COURSE IS RIGHT FOR ME?
All our courses have been created with the non-drama specialist in mind - you don’t have to have any experience or be ‘good at’ drama to employ our techniques and deliver our resources.
‘An Introduction to Early Years Imaginative Play’ is great for those who are curious about how drama and imaginative play can enhance their practice.
‘Dip into Drama’ is ideal for those who want to learn how to deliver regular drama-based activities in their setting, without having to do any of the planning themselves.
‘How to Become an Expert in Early Years Imaginative Play’ is for those who are ready to fully integrate drama and imaginative play into their practice.
Please download our comprehensive training brochure for further details.
AN INTRODUCTION TO EARLY YEARS IMAGINATIVE PLAY
Pre-recorded, online (40 mins)
OR in-person (half-day)
Learn two powerful techniques that will enable you to:
- Create an imaginary world for children to explore through play
- Deliver a Pyjama Drama game which can be adapted to any topic
- Enrich your curriculum, develop key skills
£30pp online - Buy Now
or
For teams of 10+
£20pp online / £50pp in-person
DIP INTO DRAMA
Pre-recorded online (1 hr)
OR in-person (half-day)
Learn three powerful techniques that will enable you to:
- Create a range of imaginary worlds for children to explore through play
- Deliver our 20minute lesson plans ('adventures’) with confidence and skill
- Enrich your curriculum, develop key skills (download curriculum docs here)
About our 'adventures'
Our ‘adventures’ are topic-based lesson plans, designed to last around 20mins.
In each adventure, children play a drama game which takes place in a different imaginary world.
Lead an adventure once a week or once a day; we write four new adventures a month so you will never run out!
£60pp online - Buy Now
or
For teams of 10+
£40pp online / £50pp in-person
HOW TO BECOME AN EXPERT IN EARLY YEARS IMAGINATIVE PLAY
Pre-recorded online (2.5 hours)
OR in-person (full-day)
Learn six powerful techniques that enable you to:
- Create a range of imaginary worlds for children to explore through play
- Deliver 14 Pyjama Drama games, some of which can be adapted to any topic
- Manage imaginative music and movement activities
- Enhance the learning outcomes of stories, singing, and circle-time activities
- Enrich your curriculum, develop key skills
£90pp online - Buy Now
or
For teams of 10+
£60pp online / £80pp in-person