The physical education (PE) class can be a space of joy for many children. Unfortunately, not all children derive this same sense of joy from engaging in PE, particularly in primary PE. By year three and four, many children are already displaying telltale signs of disengagement: exclusion, seclusion and a struggle to learn the skills that are needed to succeed in class. Conversely, the playground space can exist as a space where all children can find joy by engaging in a range of activities that align with their interests and passions. On the playground, a greater number of children are engaging in physical activities that help them develop across all the domains of learning. To the primary PE teacher this can be particularly jarring: ‘why is that student engaging on the playground but not in my class?” Based on research in the field, this presentation will explore the connection between the physical education class and the playground space, and how play and joy are experienced and embodied across both spaces. Ultimately, it will provide a unique insight into what can be learned from children’s engagement on the playground to rethink and reshape the PE space to make a site where all children experience joy. It will include practical strategies for how teachers can use this learning to make PE a more joyful space where more children will be engaged.