List of Play School episodes
Play School is an Australian children's television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation which first aired in 1966.
The series marked its 60th anniversary in 2026.[1]
Series overview
Series 57 (2022–2023)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Series Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 355–1 | 1 | "China" | Wonderful World 2 | Unknown | Unknown | 2 May 2022 | |
| 355–2 | 2 | "South Africa" | Wonderful World 2 | Unknown | Unknown | 3 May 2022 | |
| 355–3 | 3 | "Japan" | Wonderful World 2 | Unknown | Unknown | 4 May 2022 | |
| 355–4 | 3 | "Peru" | Wonderful World 2 | Unknown | Unknown | 5 May 2022 | |
| 355–5 | 5 | "Canada" | Wonderful World 2 | Unknown | Unknown | 6 May 2022 | |
| – | – | "Very Jazzy Street Party" | – | Unknown | Unknown | 1 July 2022 | |
| – | – | "Yarning and Dreaming" | – | Unknown | Unknown | 4 August 2022 | |
| 353–1 | 6 | "Television" | Lights, Camera, Action! | Unknown | Unknown | 22 August 2022 | |
| 353–2 | 7 | "Theatre" | Lights, Camera, Action! | Unknown | Unknown | 23 August 2022 | |
| 353–3 | 8 | "Radio" | Lights, Camera, Action! | Unknown | Unknown | 24 August 2022 | |
| 353–4 | 9 | "Animation" | Lights, Camera, Action! | Unknown | Unknown | 25 August 2022 | |
| 353–5 | 10 | "Film" | Lights, Camera, Action! | Unknown | Unknown | 26 August 2022 | |
| 356–1 | 11 | "Home" | Big and Small | Unknown | Unknown | 12 December 2022 | |
| 356–2 | 12 | "Garden" | Big and Small | Unknown | Unknown | 13 December 2022 | |
| 356–3 | 13 | "Sea" | Big and Small | Unknown | Unknown | 14 December 2022 | |
| 356–4 | 14 | "City" | Big and Small | Unknown | Unknown | 15 December 2022 | |
| 356–5 | 15 | "Outback" | Big and Small | Unknown | Unknown | 16 December 2022 | |
| – | – | "Down on the Farm" | – | Unknown | Unknown | 28 November 2022 | |
| – | – | "Summer Road Trip" | – | Unknown | Unknown | 26 December 2022 | |
| 357–1 | 16 | "Mammals and Marsupials" | Amazing Animals | Unknown | Unknown | 20 February 2023 | |
| 357–2 | 17 | "Birds" | Amazing Animals | Unknown | Unknown | 21 February 2023 | |
| 357–3 | 18 | "Reptiles" | Amazing Animals | Unknown | Unknown | 22 February 2023 | |
| 357–4 | 19 | "Amphibians" | Amazing Animals | Unknown | Unknown | 23 February 2023 | |
| 357–5 | 20 | "Fish" | Amazing Animals | Unknown | Unknown | 24 February 2023 | |
Series 58 (2023)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Series Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 358–1 | 1 | "On the Road" | Let's Take a Ride | Unknown | Unknown | 12 June 2023 |
| 358–2 | 2 | "Amazing Trains" | Let's Take a Ride | Unknown | Unknown | 13 June 2023 |
| 358–3 | 3 | "Up in the Air" | Let's Take a Ride | Unknown | Unknown | 14 June 2023 |
| 358–4 | 4 | "On the Water" | Let's Take a Ride | Unknown | Unknown | 15 June 2023 |
| 358–5 | 5 | "Fun Rides" | Let's Take a Ride | Unknown | Unknown | 16 June 2023 |
| 359–1 | 6 | "Dino Eggs" | Dinosaur Roar | Unknown | Unknown | 17 July 2023 |
| 359–2 | 7 | "Dino Museum" | Dinosaur Roar | Unknown | Unknown | 18 July 2023 |
| 359–3 | 8 | "Polar Dinos" | Dinosaur Roar | Unknown | Unknown | 19 July 2023 |
| 359–4 | 9 | "Dino Fossils" | Dinosaur Roar | Unknown | Unknown | 20 July 2023 |
| 359–5 | 10 | "Soar and Splash" | Dinosaur Roar | Unknown | Unknown | 21 July 2023 |
| 360–1 | 11 | "Home by Night" | World by Night | Unknown | Unknown | 14 August 2023 |
| 360–2 | 12 | "Natural World" | World by Night | Unknown | Unknown | 15 August 2023 |
| 360–3 | 13 | "Buildings and Cities" | World by Night | Unknown | Unknown | 16 August 2023 |
| 360–4 | 14 | "The Night Sky" | World by Night | Unknown | Unknown | 17 August 2023 |
| 360–5 | 15 | "Out About at Night" | World by Night | Unknown | Unknown | 18 August 2023 |
| – | – | "Humpty and Dad" | – | Unknown | Unknown | 3 September 2023 |
| 361–1 | 16 | "Harmony and Melody" | Let the Music Play | Unknown | Unknown | 13 November 2023 |
| 361–2 | 17 | "Rhythm and Dance" | Let the Music Play | Unknown | Unknown | 14 November 2023 |
| 361–3 | 18 | "Loud and Soft (Dynamics)" | Let the Music Play | Unknown | Unknown | 15 November 2023 |
| 361–4 | 19 | "Beats and Percussion" | Let the Music Play | Unknown | Unknown | 16 November 2023 |
| 361–5 | 20 | "Playing Together" | Let the Music Play | Unknown | Unknown | 17 November 2023 |
| 362–1 | 21 | "Discovery at the Beach" | Down at the Beach | Unknown | Unknown | 26 December 2023 |
| 362–2 | 22 | "Sea Creatures at the Beach" | Down at the Beach | Unknown | Unknown | 27 December 2023 |
| 362–3 | 23 | "Games at the Beach" | Down at the Beach | Unknown | Unknown | 28 December 2023 |
| 362–4 | 24 | "Jobs at the Beach" | Down at the Beach | Unknown | Unknown | 29 December 2023 |
| 362–5 | 25 | "Looking After the Beach" | Down at the Beach | Unknown | Unknown | 30 December 2023 |
Series 59 (2024–2025)
The series of episodes titled "Big Ted's Time Machine", which aired in May 2024, was nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Children's Program in 2025.[2] A special titled All Together aired on 19 March 2025, which featured themes of allyship and friendship, and was written by presenter Leah Vandenberg.[3] The special won an AACTA Award for Best Children's Program in 2026.[4]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Series Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 366–1 | 1 | "Rockin' '50s" | Big Ted's Time Machine | Ian Munro | Angela Moore | 27 May 2024 | |
| 366–2 | 2 | "Swinging '60s" | Big Ted's Time Machine | Ian Munro | Carlo Ritchie | 28 May 2024 | |
|
Presenters: Justine Clarke and Alex Papps Guest: Monica Trapaga | |||||||
| 366–3 | 3 | "Groovy '70s" | Big Ted's Time Machine | Ian Munro | Emma Palmer | 29 May 2024 | |
| 366–4 | 4 | "Rad '80s" | Big Ted's Time Machine | Ian Munro | Lewis Hobba | 30 May 2024 | |
| 366–5 | 5 | "Fantastic Future" | Big Ted's Time Machine | Ian Munro | Emma Palmer | 31 May 2024 | |
|
Presenters: Kaeng Chan and Luke Carroll Guest: Kirli Saunders | |||||||
| 367–1 | 6 | "Track and Field" | Let the Games Begin | Unknown | Unknown | 29 July 2024 | |
| 367–2 | 7 | "Water Sports" | Let the Games Begin | Unknown | Unknown | 30 July 2024 | |
| 367–3 | 8 | "Ball Sports" | Let the Games Begin | Unknown | Unknown | 31 July 2024 | |
| 367–4 | 9 | "Solo and Team Sports" | Let the Games Begin | Unknown | Unknown | 1 August 2024 | |
| 367–5 | 10 | "Backyard Games" | Let the Games Begin | Unknown | Unknown | 2 August 2024 | |
| 368–1 | 11 | "Brekky Time" | What's Cooking? | Unknown | Unknown | 16 September 2024 | |
| 368–2 | 12 | "Munchy Crunchy Lunch" | What's Cooking? | Unknown | Unknown | 17 September 2024 | |
| 368–3 | 13 | "Sip and Snack" | What's Cooking? | Unknown | Unknown | 18 September 2024 | |
| 368–4 | 14 | "Delicious Dinner" | What's Cooking? | Unknown | Unknown | 19 September 2024 | |
| 368–5 | 20 | "Dreamy Desserts" | What's Cooking? | Unknown | Unknown | 20 September 2024 | |
| – | – | "The Not Too Spooky Special" | – | Ian Munro | Lewis Hobba | 18 October 2024 | |
|
Presenters: Matthew Backer, Rachael Coopes and Eddie Perfect | |||||||
| 369–1 | 16 | "Colourful and Camouflaging Insects" | Interesting Insects | Unknown | Unknown | 25 November 2024 | |
| 369–2 | 17 | "Fast and Slow Insects" | Interesting Insects | Unknown | Unknown | 26 November 2024 | |
| 369–3 | 18 | "Wet and Dry Insects" | Interesting Insects | Unknown | Unknown | 27 November 2024 | |
| 369–4 | 19 | "Noisy and Quiet Insects" | Interesting Insects | Unknown | Unknown | 28 November 2024 | |
| 369–5 | 20 | "Daytime and Nighttime Insects" | Interesting Insects | Unknown | Unknown | 29 November 2024 | |
| – | – | "Growing Strong" | – | Unknown | Unknown | 3 February 2025 | |
| 370–1 | 21 | "Mighty Moving Machines" | Mighty Machines | Unknown | Unknown | 24 February 2025 | |
| 370–2 | 22 | "Mighty Zooming Machines" | Mighty Machines | Unknown | Unknown | 25 February 2025 | |
| 370–3 | 23 | "Mighty Helpful Machines" | Mighty Machines | Unknown | Unknown | 26 February 2025 | |
| 370–4 | 24 | "Mighty Hardworking Machines" | Mighty Machines | Unknown | Unknown | 27 February 2025 | |
| 370–5 | 25 | "Mighty Playful Machines" | Mighty Machines | Unknown | Unknown | 28 February 2025 | |
| – | – | "All Together" | – | Hattie Archibald | Leah Vandenberg | 19 March 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Alex Papps, Miah Madden, Michelle Lim Davidson, Teo Gebert and Zindzi Okenyo | |||||||
Series 60 (2025–2026)
The "Humpty's Big Book of Nursery Rhymes" series aired from 16 to 20 February 2026, featured five former presenters as guests, and debuted a new opening title sequence produced by Studio Gilay.[5] It was accompanied by a physical book of the same name, which will be released on 29 September 2026.[6]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Series Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 371–1 | 1 | "Clever Creatives" | When I Grow Up | Unknown | Unknown | 5 May 2025 | |
| 371–2 | 2 | "Health Care Helpers" | When I Grow Up | Unknown | Unknown | 6 May 2025 | |
| 371–3 | 3 | "Wonderful Whizzes" | When I Grow Up | Unknown | Unknown | 7 May 2025 | |
| 371–4 | 4 | "Super Services" | When I Grow Up | Unknown | Unknown | 8 May 2025 | |
| 371–5 | 5 | "Nature Nurturers" | When I Grow Up | Unknown | Unknown | 9 May 2025 | |
| 372–1 | 6 | "City Living" | My Place, My Home | Hattie Archibald | Lewis Hobba | 9 June 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Michelle Lim Davidson and Kaeng Chan Teo's Travels: Teo Gebert Guest: John Martin | |||||||
| 372–2 | 7 | "Coastal Breeze" | My Place, My Home | Hattie Archibald | Kylie Bracknell | 10 June 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Miah Madden and Matthew Backer Teo's Travels: Teo Gebert Guest: Dustin Maloney | |||||||
| 372–3 | 8 | "Island Life" | My Place, My Home | Hattie Archibald | Jasmin McCaughey | 11 June 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Alex Papps and Rachael Coopes Teo's Travels: Teo Gebert Guests: Charles Passi, Laurie Nona and Nabako Laza | |||||||
| 372–4 | 9 | "The Great Outback" | My Place, My Home | Hattie Archibald | Kirli Saunders | 12 June 2025 | |
| 372–5 | 10 | "Country Charm" | My Place, My Home | Hattie Archibald | Carlo Ritchie | 13 June 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Miah Madden and Nicholas Brown Teo's Travels: Teo Gebert Guest: Deb Morley | |||||||
| 373–1 | 11 | "Farmyard Friends" | Playtime with Pets | Ian Munro | Carlo Ritchie | 22 September 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Alex Papps and Michelle Lim Davidson | |||||||
| 373–2 | 12 | "Little Friends" | Playtime with Pets | Ian Munro | Amy Stewart | 23 September 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Emma Palmer and Takaya Honda | |||||||
| 373–3 | 13 | "Scaly Friends" | Playtime with Pets | Ian Munro | Emma Hanna | 24 September 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Abi Tucker and Teo Gebert | |||||||
| 373–4 | 14 | "Aquatic Friends" | Playtime with Pets | Ian Munro | Angela Moore | 25 September 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Rachael Coopes and Emma Palmer | |||||||
| 373–5 | 15 | "Furry Friends" | Playtime with Pets | Ian Munro | Jasmin McGaughey | 26 September 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Kaeng Chan and Takaya Honda | |||||||
| 374–1 | 16 | "Natural Creators" | Make and Create | Hattie Archibald | Lewis Hobba | 3 November 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Abi Tucker and Takaya Honda | |||||||
| 374–2 | 17 | "Curious Thinkers" | Make and Create | Hattie Archibald | Kirli Saunders | 4 November 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Emma Palmer and Kaeng Chan | |||||||
| 374–3 | 18 | "Recycling Inventors" | Make and Create | Hattie Archibald | Emma Palmer | 5 November 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Alex Papps and Teo Gebert | |||||||
| 374–4 | 19 | "Crafty Artists" | Make and Create | Hattie Archibald | Kylie Bracknell | 6 November 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Rachael Coopes and Teo Gebert | |||||||
| 374–5 | 20 | "Foodie Makers" | Make and Create | Hattie Archibald | Carlo Ritchie | 7 November 2025 | |
|
Presenters: Zindzi Okenyo and Alex Papps | |||||||
| 375–1 | 21 | "Nautical Rhymes" | Humpty's Big Book of Nursery Rhymes | Ian Munro | Carlo Ritchie | 16 February 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Emma Palmer and Alex Papps Guest: Rhys Muldoon | |||||||
| 375–2 | 22 | "Royal Rhymes" | Humpty's Big Book of Nursery Rhymes | Ian Munro | Emma Palmer | 17 February 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Justine Clarke and Teo Gebert Guest: Jay Laga'aia | |||||||
| 375–3 | 23 | "Food and Garden Rhymes" | Humpty's Big Book of Nursery Rhymes | Ian Munro | Benjamin Law | 18 February 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Leah Vandenberg and Kaeng Chan Guest: Miranda Tapsell | |||||||
| 375–4 | 24 | "Animal Rhymes" | Humpty's Big Book of Nursery Rhymes | Ian Munro | Angela Moore | 19 February 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Rachael Coopes and Matthew Backer Guest: John Waters | |||||||
| 375–5 | 25 | "Nighttime and Lullaby Rhymes" | Humpty's Big Book of Nursery Rhymes | Ian Munro | Jasmin McGaughey | 20 February 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Michelle Lim Davidson and Luke Carroll Guest: Sofya Gollan | |||||||
| 376–1 | 26 | "Animals of the Rainforest" | Rainforest Rangers | Ian Munro | Lewis Hobba | 4 May 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Justine Clarke and Kaeng Chan | |||||||
| 376–2 | 27 | "Layers of the Rainforest" | Rainforest Rangers | Ian Munro | Emma Hanna | 5 May 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Alex Papps and Miah Madden | |||||||
| 376–3 | 28 | "Plants of the Rainforest" | Rainforest Rangers | Sofya Gollan | Emma Palmer | 6 May 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Takaya Honda and Zindzi Okenyo | |||||||
| 376–4 | 29 | "Weather of the Rainforest" | Rainforest Rangers | Ian Munro | Jasmine McGaughey | 7 May 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Abi Tucker and Luke Carroll | |||||||
| 376–5 | 30 | "Caring for the Rainforest" | Rainforest Rangers | Ian Munro | Carlo Ritchie | 8 May 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Leah Vandenberg and Luke Carroll | |||||||
Series 61 (2026)
Play School marked its 60th anniversary on 18 July 2026. The "Party Animals!" series aired from 13 to 17 July 2026, themed around different parties.[1] A series titled "Sensational Senses", which aired from 17 to 21 August 2026, was directed by former deaf presenter Sofya Gollan and features picture-in-picture guest appearances from various Auslan translators.[7] Deaf interpreter Vanessa Alford also made her debut in this series as a regular presenter.[7]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Series Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 377–1 | 1 | "Arty Party" | Party Animals! | Ian Munro | Lewis Hobba | 13 July 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Abi Tucker and Alex Papps | |||||||
| 377–2 | 2 | "Superhero Party" | Party Animals! | Ian Munro | Carlo Ritchie | 14 July 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Matthew Backer and Michelle Lim Davidson | |||||||
| 377–3 | 3 | "Space Explorers Party" | Party Animals! | Ian Munro | Angela Moore | 15 July 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Michelle Lim Davidson and Takaya Honda | |||||||
| 377–4 | 4 | "Animal Party" | Party Animals! | Ian Munro | Jasmin McGaughey | 16 July 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Emma Palmer and Teo Gebert | |||||||
| 377–5 | 5 | "Move and Groove Party" | Party Animals! | Ian Munro | Emma Palmer | 17 July 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Kaeng Chan and Zindzi Okenyo | |||||||
| 378–1 | 6 | "Sniff and Imagine" | Sensational Senses | Sofya Gollan | Emma Hanna | 17 August 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Emma Palmer and Takaya Honda Auslan Translator: Fallon Simchowitz | |||||||
| 378–2 | 7 | "Listen and Balance" | Sensational Senses | Sofya Gollan | Lewis Hobba | 18 August 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Alex Papps, Rachael Coopes and Vanessa Alford Auslan Translator: Julia Murphy | |||||||
| 378–3 | 8 | "Look and Discover" | Sensational Senses | Sofya Gollan | Amy Stewart | 19 August 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Alex Papps and Leah Vandenberg Auslan Translator: Melissa Kennewell | |||||||
| 378–4 | 9 | "Touch, Feel and Move" | Sensational Senses | Sofya Gollan | Kirli Saunders | 20 August 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Abi Tucker and Matthew Backer Auslan Translator: Oliad Omar | |||||||
| 378–5 | 10 | "Taste and Try" | Sensational Senses | Sofya Gollan | Benjamin Law | 21 August 2026 | |
|
Presenters: Miah Madden and Kaeng Chan Auslan Translator: David Grant | |||||||
| TBA | TBA | TBA | Things to Do | TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | Things to Do | TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | Things to Do | TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | Things to Do | TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| TBA | TBA | TBA | Things to Do | TBA | TBA | TBA | |
| – | – | "The Super Silly Special" | – | TBA | TBA | TBA | |
References
- 1 2 Knox, David (16 June 2026). "Play School turning 60". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 9 July 2026. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
- ↑ Knox, David (7 February 2025). "AACTA Awards 2025: winners". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 19 June 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
- ↑ Rigden, Clare (11 July 2026). "Play School turns 60: presenter Leah Vandenberg reflects on the ABC Kids show's extraordinary legacy". The West Australian. Southern Cross Media Group. Archived from the original on 18 July 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Knox, David (6 February 2026). "AACTA Awards 2026: winners". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 6 February 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "Play School Opening Titles". Studio Gilay. 2026. Archived from the original on 9 July 2026. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
- ↑ "Humpty's Big Book of Nursery Rhymes". HarperCollins. 2026. Archived from the original on 9 July 2026. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
- 1 2 Scott, Leisa; Denyer, Winsome (5 July 2026). "We go behind the scenes to discover the secrets of Play School's 60-year success". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 July 2026. Retrieved 8 August 2026.