Welcome to the Carly Budd
Developmental Play Academy®
Going beyond the milestones to support the foundations of lifelong health, movement and participation.
The earliest years lay the foundations for how we move, develop, connect and experience the world around us.
Founded by multi-award-winning Paediatric Occupational Therapist Carly Budd, the Academy offers specialist, accredited training that goes beyond traditional early years learning approaches to explore the neurodevelopmental foundations of human movement, postural stability, sensory processing and play.
Discover what's happening underneath the milestones, and how positioning for play, movement experiences, relationships and meaningful play opportunities can support children's development, health and wellbeing.
Inclusion is at the heart of my approach. Every child develops differently, and my training helps professionals create meaningful opportunities for all children to move, play, develop and participate, whatever their abilities or developmental pathway.
Because developmental play isn't just about learning or reaching milestones. It's about building foundations for life.
Find the Accredited Practitioner Training for you
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Whether you are new to developmental play or ready to deepen your knowledge, there is a pathway to suit the way you work.
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My training is designed to give you more than a certificate. You will build a deeper understanding of how babies and toddlers develop, how play and movement support that development, and how to adapt your approach for children with developmental differences, disabilities and additional needs.
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Developmental Play Training Pathways:
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1) Tummy Time Practitioner PLUS+
Focused training for practitioners supporting babies from birth. If you are looking for specialist training in tummy time, early floor based play and movement, with a deeper understanding of the why and how, this is the place to start.
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You will learn how to rethink tummy time in a practical, positive and achievable way for families, including how to adapt your approach for babies who find it difficult or who have additional needs.
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Explore Tummy Time Practitioner PLUS+
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2) Advanced Practitioner in Infant Developmental Play 0 to 1 Years
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This is where you move beyond tummy time and develop a deeper understanding of infant development as a whole, including movement, positioning, sensory development, play, parent education, mini milestones and supporting babies with additional needs and medical complexity.
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This is the complete pathway for practitioners wanting to understand development and developmental play across the first year.
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Your pathway includes the full Tummy Time Practitioner PLUS+ training alongside the acrcedited Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Infant Developmental Play 0 to 1 Years, with practical ideas, teaching resources and knowledge that you can take directly into your work with babies and families. Externally and internationally accredited to Advanced Level 3 and worth 15 CPD points.
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Explore the Advanced Practitioner in Infant Developmental Play 0 to 1 Years pathway
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3) Advanced Practitioner in Developmental Play 0 to 3 Years
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For practitioners who want to take their learning across the full birth to three years developmental journey, this is the most comprehensive Developmental Play Academy pathway.
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It includes the complete Advanced Practitioner in Infant Developmental Play 0 to 1 Years pathway, including Tummy Time Practitioner PLUS+, together with the Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Toddler Developmental Play 1 to 3 Years.
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You will build on your understanding of infant development as children move into the toddler years, exploring development, movement, sensory development and purposeful play through a stage rather than age approach.
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Choose the complete 0 to 3 Years pathway from the outset for the best overall value, or begin with 0 to 1 and progress into the Toddler Developmental Play training later. Externally and internationally accredited to Advanced Level 3 and worth 30 CPD points.
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Whether you're a baby class practitioner looking to deepen your understanding of child development and offer more bespoke sessions, an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist wanting to bring your clinical knowledge to life through play, or working within an early years setting, school, charity or community service, there's a place for you here.
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Perhaps you're looking to enhance your existing classes, bring more inclusive play opportunities into your practice, better support the families you work with, or even create your own play-based business.
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My training helps you turn specialist neurodevelopmental knowledge into meaningful, practical play experiences that support children's movement, development, health and participation, whatever their abilities or developmental pathway.
Bring more than a list of play ideas to your practice.
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Build the knowledge and confidence to understand the why behind the play,
create inclusive developmental opportunities and make a meaningful difference to the children and families you support.
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With practical resources, ready-to-use ideas and ongoing guidance and support, you'll have the tools to bring your learning to life through your own classes, workshops, programmes or existing services, or even get something new off the ground!
The Carly Budd Developmental Play Academy® is for you if:
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You care deeply about babies, children, and their parents or caregivers.
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You want to support children aged 0–3 with developmentally appropriate, meaningful play - not trends or gimmicks.
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You want to explore child development, movement, sensory processing, and play, and understand their impact on brains, nervous systems, motor skills, and lifelong outcomes.
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You already work with children and want to embed this knowledge into your current role or create a new service, gaining deeper understanding of how movement, play, and interaction influence development.
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You are new to the field and want a strong foundation in child development and play, with evidence-based knowledge and practical guidance from an experienced OT.
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You value supporting the stage, not the age, and want confidence guiding babies and children with additional needs, complex diagnoses, or developmental differences - empowering parents and caregivers with sensitivity and skill.
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You are committed to professional growth and maintaining high standards in childcare, parent–baby wellbeing, or therapy services.
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You are looking for high-quality, accredited training, a global community of like-minded practitioners, and ongoing networking and CPD opportunities.
Working with
Carly Budd
Carly, a multi-award winning Paediatric Occupational Therapist and registered Health Professional, is passionate about elevating your expertise in the realm of early child development, movement, and play for health promotion. Her meticulously crafted courses are a gateway to enhancing your knowledge and practical skills, laying a robust foundation for comprehending the essential components of child development for building brains and nurturing nervous systems with lifelong benefit.
With a focus on everything from mini milestones to optimal play positions, tummy time and varied play diets, and the significance of playful interactions, Carly's bespoke training draws from her extensive experience working both in the NHS and independently as an OT specialising in Paediatric Neurology, utilising play as a tool to support the crucial development of sensory processing, cognitive, physical, and emotional skills. Carly's courses are designed to take your learning on a whole new level and use and infuse this in your services supporting babies and young children.
By investing in Carly's bespoke training, you will deepen your knowledge and enhance your techniques to create enriching play and movement based spaces for babies and young children. Additionally, you'll be equipped to offer valuable guidance to parents, fostering an environment that promotes the holistic development and future outcomes of the little ones that you reach.
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