Play England’s Call for Action: Our Submission to the State of Play Inquiry

At Play England, we believe that play is not just a fundamental right for children but the cornerstone of a healthy, active, and happy society. However, for decades, play opportunities have been systematically eroded due to urbanisation, traffic-dominated neighbourhoods, inadequate planning policies, and disinvestment in play spaces, services and provision.

That’s why we have made a formal submission to the State of Play Inquiry by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, calling for a radical rethink of how play is recognised, valued and supported in England. This inquiry presents a crucial opportunity to re-establish play as a national priority, and we are urging policymakers to take decisive action to embed play at the heart of physical activity, health, and community planning.

The Case for Change

Our submission sets out the pressing need for a new approach to play policy in England:

• England is falling behind – Unlike Wales and Scotland, which have Play Sufficiency legislation ensuring children have access to time, space, and opportunities for play, England lacks a legal framework to protect children’s right to play.

• Play is the missing link in sport and physical activity policy – Despite growing recognition of the importance of physical literacy, national strategies such as the Government’s Get Active (2023) and Sport England’s Uniting the Movement (2021) overlook the critical role of play in fostering lifelong physical activity.

• A new National Play Strategy is long overdue – The last National Play Strategy was scrapped in 2010. Since then, no comprehensive national policy has been in place to support play, leaving provision fragmented and underfunded.

• The case for investment is clear – Play is essential for children’s physical and mental wellbeing, social development, and community cohesion. Yet, across the country, playgrounds are closing, adventure play is disappearing, and barriers such as ‘No Ball Games’ signs are restricting play in public spaces.

What Needs to Happen?

We are calling on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to drive forward the following key recommendations:

✅ Recognise play as the foundation of sport and physical activity – Play must be embedded in all relevant government policies and strategies, ensuring that Sport England, Active Travel England, and local authorities align play with sport, health, and planning initiatives.

✅ Introduce Play Sufficiency legislation in England – Every child should have access to high-quality, inclusive and accessible play opportunities, just as children in Wales and Scotland do.

✅ Develop a new National Play Strategy – Led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), a strategy is urgently needed to provide a national framework for investing in and protecting play.

✅ Remove barriers to play – Policies that restrict free play, such as restrictive planning regulations and outdated byelaws, must be reformed to allow children to reclaim public spaces.

Momentum is Building

The call for action on play is growing. In January, the Westminster Hall debate led by Tom Hayes MP saw strong cross-party support for Play England’s manifesto, highlighting the urgent need for investment in play spaces and playwork. MPs recognised that play is not just about playgrounds—it’s about unstructured, free, and adventurous play that supports children’s overall wellbeing.

Now, with the State of Play Inquiry submission, we have a potential opportunity to push for meaningful legislative and policy change.

The time for action is now. If the Government is serious about improving children’s wellbeing, tackling physical inactivity, and creating child-friendly communities, then play must be prioritised at every level of government.

Join the Movement

We need your support to make this happen. Share this post, engage with your local MP, and help us keep play on the national agenda.

Together, we can make England a place where every child has the freedom, space, and opportunity to play.

👉 Read our full submission to the State of Play Inquiry