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Answer: The Brain-SET Environments Formula® is a neuroscience-informed approach to designing learning and working environments so that a calm brain is a thinking brain. Created by Dr. Kathryn Murray of Future Strong Education, it helps educators and leaders align room design, routines, and relationships with how the brain develops and learns.
Last updated: 17 July 2026 · Author: Dr. Kathryn Murray, EdD
What is Brain-SET?
Brain-SET is not a furniture catalogue or a full school curriculum. It is a practical training and environment-design pedagogy that shows how to organise spaces so children (and adults) can settle, focus, and engage more deeply. Future Strong Education delivers Brain-SET through workshops, coaching, and online training. The dedicated product site is brainsetformula.com.
Who is Brain-SET for?
| Audience | How Brain-SET helps |
|---|---|
| Early childhood educators & centres | Design rooms that support brain development from birth to school age |
| Schools & leaders | Calmer classrooms, clearer behaviour supports, stronger adult–child relationships |
| Parents | Home environments and routines that reduce stress and support learning |
| Workplaces | Spaces and practices that support focus, wellbeing, and collaboration |
Why environment design matters for the developing brain
The brain is the only organ not fully developed at birth. Over the first five years of life, a very large share of brain development occurs — which means the environments young children spend time in matter for attention, regulation, language, and learning. Historically, rooms are often arranged to look tidy or “pretty.” Brain-SET asks a different question: What if we designed the environment to support the developing brain?
As children’s learning needs change, the environment should change with them. Brain-SET training helps educators notice sensory load, pathways, calm zones, materials, and adult practices that either settle or overstimulate the nervous system.
What outcomes do educators report?
Teams who apply Brain-SET principles commonly describe children who are calmer and more engaged, with more collaboration, richer oral language opportunities, and fewer behaviour escalations. Educators often report feeling calmer and more confident. Outcomes vary by setting; Brain-SET focuses on practical environment changes paired with professional reflection. See How Brain-SET Works for more detail.
How is Brain-SET different from Reggio Emilia or Montessori?
Reggio Emilia and Montessori are broader educational philosophies with distinctive views of the child, materials, and pedagogy. Brain-SET is specifically an environment-design formula grounded in neuroscience and decades of classroom practice. Centres using Reggio- or Montessori-inspired approaches can still use Brain-SET to refine how spaces support regulation and attention — without replacing their chosen philosophy.
How can I learn Brain-SET?
- Brain-SET training & masterclasses
- Future Strong workshops & courses
- Contact Dr. Kathryn Murray for centre or organisation training
Frequently asked questions
Is Brain-SET only for early childhood?
No. It began in early childhood and is widely used there, but the same brain needs apply in schools and workplaces. Future Strong Education also delivers workplace education using these principles.
Who created Brain-SET?
Dr. Kathryn Murray, EdD, founder of Future Strong Education (Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia), created the Brain-SET Environments Formula®.
Where can I start?
Read How it works, explore Quick Guides, or contact us about training for your team.
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