The Third Teacher: The Environment

The Third Teacher: The Environment
🏫 Free 1-hour Online Professional Learning Workshop

📅 Wednesday, 15 July 2026
⏰ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (AWST)
💻 Online via Zoom
💙 Free registration
🎓 Certificate of Completion available

In early childhood education, the environment is often referred to as “the third teacher.” The physical, sensory, and social environments we create play a powerful role in supporting children’s learning, regulation, independence, and sense of belonging.

For autistic and neurodivergent children, the environment can either support engagement and calm or contribute to overwhelm and dysregulation.

This workshop supports Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals to intentionally design and adapt environments that promote inclusion, accessibility, and wellbeing for all children.

What you’ll learn:

✔ Understanding the concept of the environment as the “third teacher”
✔ How environments impact regulation, participation, and learning
✔ Identifying environmental barriers and supports in ECEC settings
✔ Practical strategies to adapt physical and sensory environments to support diverse needs

This session is ideal for Early Childhood Educators, Room Leaders, Educational Leaders, Centre Directors and support staff who want to create inclusive, responsive learning spaces.