Leading by listening: A Playful Approach

Supporting educators and professionals with leading change by listening to children's voices through play

A lightbox with colourful buttons and feathers on top.

By listening closely to children’s voices expressed through their play and through playful approaches, children can influence change. 

Since the beginning of 2024, Dr Lynsey Burke has been working with Head Teachers and Senior Leaders across Scotland to create a framework which will support educators and professionals to listen to and amplify children’s voices to influence change in school settings.

A draft framework  was piloted in 2024-2025 in a mainstream primary school and has now also been piloted in the Additional Support Needs sector and with 3rd sector organisations. As a result of the pilots now being completed in January 2026, the final framework will be launched soon, so watch this space! 

If you can’t wait and would like to see the original version of the framework, go to the Discovery Portal.

Discovery Portal

Here are some digital stories of ways children’s voices have influenced change within their settings, using the draft version of the framework:

To inform the development of the school’s curriculum rationale on play, from nursery to P7:

 

More recently, The Playful Researchers worked with children and staff in an Enhanced Provision setting to uncover children’s views of their daily school lives and what they would like to change.

Feedback on the draft framework from a range of professionals

“A great framework to ensure all relevant stakeholders can contribute and ensure everyone is represented”

Head Teacher, AHDS Conference, November 2023

“Having a framework like this really helps to focus thoughts. Loving the ideas on how to evidence this approach, and already thinking how I can use this approach for other things too!”

Depute Head Teacher, AHDS Conference, November 2023

“I found it very interesting to see all the different ways that it could be achieved with all the photo examples of different set ups. My main take away will be how there is such a huge variety of ways that children can express themselves and to be open to observing all of those.”

Participant – Children in Scotland Conference, June 2024

“As a Perinatal Support Coordinator I often hear from families there concerns when it comes to introducing their older children to baby. This framework could help to find out what they need and how they are feeling about the changing home environment.”

Participant – Third Sector organisation Professional Learning Event, October 2024

“I see it being particularly useful in listening to children in care, especially in helping them transition out of care.”

Participant – Third Sector organisation Professional Learning Event, October 2024

Download the entirety of feedback below, from Senior Leaders at the launch of the framework at the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) conference on 9 November 2023.

Download our PDF on Leading by Listening feedback

Leading by Listening feedback