Play England’s Evidence Submission to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill Committee
At Play England, we believe every child deserves the freedom to play in safe, accessible, and high-quality spaces. Play is not a luxury—it is essential to children’s development, health, and happiness. That’s why we are driving forward the case for Play Sufficiency and a new National Play Strategy that ensures play is prioritised at every level of government.
Our recent evidence submission to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill Committee reinforces the urgent need for local authorities to assess and guarantee sufficient play opportunities for all children. You can read our full submission here.
Why Play Sufficiency Matters
Despite overwhelming evidence of play’s benefits, play opportunities in England remain under threat due to a lack of statutory protection, declining public investment, and increasing barriers to play. Our submission to the Committee highlights:
Health and Wellbeing: Play is crucial for physical activity, mental health, and emotional resilience, helping to combat anxiety, and social isolation.
Equity and Inclusion: Access to play is uneven across England, with children in deprived areas facing the greatest restrictions. A play sufficiency duty would ensure fairness and access for all.
Community and Environment: Play-friendly spaces make communities safer, greener, and more connected. Investing in play helps create vibrant public spaces that benefit everyone.
Why England Needs a National Play Strategy
While play sufficiency duties in Wales and Scotland have driven positive change, England is falling behind. A new National Play Strategy is critical to reversing this trend and ensuring that play is valued, funded, and embedded across all aspects of children’s lives. This strategy must:
Secure long-term investment in play spaces and services.
Ensure every local authority has a statutory duty to assess and provide for children’s play needs.
Embed play into national policies on health, education, planning, and transport.
Champion children’s right to play at a national level and hold decision-makers accountable for progress.
Proposed new clause in the Bill
Play England is proposing a new clause to introduce a Play Sufficiency duty within local government responsibilities, aligning with the overarching aims of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Embedding play sufficiency within the Bill would enhance its focus on wellbeing while strengthening existing legislative and policy framework, including recent updates to the National Planning Policy Framework, which now provides protection for ‘formal play spaces’.
Additionally, the provision for a new National Play Strategy, with the flexibility to introduce further regulations through statutory instruments, ensures that this provision remains adaptable to future needs while maintaining a clear statutory foundation.
The proposed clause has been drafted to be legally robust setting out a defined duty for local authorities to assess, secure, and enhance play opportunities while allowing for effective national oversight through guidance from the Secretary of State.
This approach ensures that children’s wellbeing and right to play are properly recognised within local government decision-making, without imposing excessive or impractical burdens.
Growing Momentum for Change
We are not alone in this mission. The call for stronger play policies is gaining traction:
Cross-sector support: Organisations spanning health, education, and urban planning recognise the critical need for action.
Political engagement: Ministers and MP’s recognition of play sufficiency is a key step towards legislative change.
Public demand: Parents, educators, and communities are increasingly vocal about the need for more and better play opportunities.
Play England: Leading the Way
Play England is at the heart of this movement, working alongside Government, policymakers, local authorities, and communities to turn advocacy into action. We are calling on all stakeholders to back our call for Play Sufficiency alongside a new National Play Strategy to make England a play-friendly nation.
Now is the time for action. Join us in making the case for play by sharing your experiences, engaging with decision-makers, and supporting our campaign. Together, we can ensure that every child in England has the freedom to play.