June 11th is the International Day of Play, an important event that celebrates the importance of play in children’s lives. This year, it also marked the launch of the final report from The Raising the Nation Play Commission. This year-long independent inquiry examined why play is critical to children’s development and well-being, and how it can be restored to every childhood in England.
The report, Everything to Play For: A Plan to Ensure Every Child in England Can Play, warns that play is under threat. Shrinking playtime, digital distractions, and safety concerns are limiting children’s opportunities to engage in play, impacting their learning, social development, and mental health.
To address these concerns, the report calls for urgent action, including:
- A National Play Strategy
- A Minister for Play
- A ban on ‘No Ball Games’ signs
- Support for schools to rethink playtimes
- Integration of play into the curriculum at a national level
Schools play a central role in shaping childhood experiences, yet play is often overlooked in educational settings. It is not merely a break but an essential part of learning. Research consistently shows that play fosters creativity, problem-solving, and emotional resilience, contributing to cognitive, academic, physical, social, and emotional development.
This aligns with our work in Rethinking Curriculum: Play-Based learning and Continuous Provision Toolkit, which advocates for extending play-based learning beyond Early Years into Key Stage 1 and beyond. Schools that embed play into their curriculum create environments where children thrive through movement, exploration, and joyful interaction.
The Chartered College is actively supporting the National Play Advisory Group to champion playful learning approaches in education. Schools and educators play a vital role in shaping the future of learning. By prioritising play, we can help reclaim childhood and ensure that every child has the freedom to learn, grow, and thrive.
To explore how schools are integrating play-based learning, visit our growing case studies here.
For further information on Everything to Play For, read the full report here.
