Response: Curriculum and assessment review

The Department for Education (DfE) sought views from stakeholders to share their perspective on potential improvements to the curriculum and assessment system.

The review intends to ensure that the curriculum appropriately balances ambition, excellence, relevance, flexibility and inclusivity for all children and young people. The review will publish recommendations in 2025.

About our response

Play England’s response to the call for evidence primarily, (but not exclusively) relates to:

Section 9: Other issues on which we would welcome views

Further Views: 54. Do you have any further views on anything else associated with the Curriculum and Assessment Review not covered in the questions throughout the call for evidence?

Whilst our response primarily relates to Section 9 – Further Views: 54, it can be correlated to other sections, this is to avoid repetition. Therefore, we are assuming that our response will be considered within this context.

Additionally, it should be noted that Play England support the consultation responses from our partners the Youth Sport Trust - amongst others.

Summary

Play England are calling for meaningful change within England’s curriculum as part of the government’s legislative programme - through the introduction of play sufficiency legislation and a new national play strategy.

Play Sufficiency Legislation

·        Introduce Play Sufficiency legislation in England as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

The introduction of Play Sufficiency legislation in England (as fully set out in our manifesto) would ensure that all children, young people, and families have access to enough time, space, opportunity, and permission to play and recreation throughout all aspects of their daily lives. It would protect, provide, and enhance opportunities for play and recreation at home, at school, in parks and the built environment.

Legislation should cover (but not be limited to) the following three key areas:

1.       Spaces and places - spaces and places for play and recreation.

2.      Workforce - qualifications, registration, and regulation.

3.     Provision - high-quality, inclusive play services.

An equivalent duty has been in place in Wales for over a decade, and in May 2023 a play sufficiency duty was introduced in Scotland, leaving England lagging behind.

National Play Strategy

·        Develop a new National Play Strategy for England as part of the Children’s Wellbeing Bill

There has been no national play strategy in England since 2008, which was developed by the last Labour government, together with Play England.

We, and sector partners, stand ready to support government in developing a new, cross departmental national play strategy. This strategy would ensure that play sufficiency legislation is brought into meaningful practice, and that England becomes a child-friendly country where all children have freedom to play at home, at school, in parks and the built environment.

Delivering these first steps will depend on bringing together various governmental departments (DfE, DCMS, MHCLG, DHSC, and DfT) with national agencies, stakeholders, and children (as we did in 2008) to ensure that the importance of play is recognised, valued, and protected across government, the curriculum and wider society.

Together, we can deliver transformational change and secure a legacy for our future generations by giving children their childhood back!

Download a pdf of our full response: Play England - Curriculum and Assessment Review - Response