Xplor Technologies adds handy web features to Playground – enabling educators to get more done, even when on the move

MELBOURNE, AUS – January 25, 2023 – Xplor Technologies, a global platform integrating software, payments, and commerce accelerating technologies for businesses in the early education sector has today announced upgrades to its Playground platform. The new functionality now enables educators to complete a child’s early education planning, programming, and compliance records quickly and easily via the Playground app for the first time. 

Xplor Technologies’ innovative suite of Office, Playground, Waitlist, and Home apps are designed to simplify childcare delivery and administration, by reducing the burden of administration; helping educators to deliver quality care; and enabling parents to stay connected to their child. Since launching in 2016, Playground has become a leading platform for educators for observing, tracking, and planning childcare more efficiently, used by over 10,000 childcare services across Australia and New Zealand.

“Early childhood educators are unsung heroes, and they deserve the very best in technology to help them perform their vital roles,” said Matt Varley, General Manager, Education, at Xplor Technologies. “By responding to feedback and adding new functionality to our Playground app we’ve made it much simpler, quicker and easier for educators to complete their day-to-day tasks on the move – freeing them up to spend more time doing what they love, delivering quality education to children.” 

Previously educators could record only health events and safety tracking via the app. Now alongside innovative planning and programming features, Playground also offers documents, tables, and canvases, making it more convenient for educators to track and report on each child’s learning outcome and achievements, and share these learning journeys with parents. Educators not only save time and have greater flexibility in how they record their work, but they can also make their records more creative and visually appealing. 

The latest functionality upgrades for Playground were designed in collaboration with a national education advisory group, in which key teaching industry leaders outlined the importance of mobile-first programming and planning for simplifying time-critical tasks. With these insights, Xplor Technologies understood these features would be transformational for educators for improving the quality of early education across the sector.

"Direct access to the programming and planning records via the Playground app means educators are able to create meaningful documentation and record experiences with greater flexibility. The app is enabling educators to interact with ed-tech in ways that suit them best, saving time; supporting more parent engagement; and shared decision-making with children," said Kirsten Holland, General Manager of Program and Practice, Catholic Early Ed Care.

“When digital platforms are responsive to the nature of educators’ work in early childhood education settings, documentation becomes more meaningful and accessible,” said Dr Melinda Miller, Director of Early Learning, First Five Early Learning. “The evolution of Playground is responsive to the time-critical nature of educators’ work and creates opportunities for working in more innovative ways both for and with children.” 

To take advantage of the new features, users must update their Playground app version 2.14.0 on their iPad or Apple mobile device. After the update, educators will be able complete education programming and planning tasks in the app, wherever they are. To learn more about how Playground can benefit childcare service providers, book a demo or visit the website.