Children's Play
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the recommendations from The University of Manchester article entitled The right to play: making play a policy and practice priority published in September 2025.
Answered by Georgia Gould
Play is an essential part of children’s physical, social and cognitive development, as recognised in the ‘early years foundation stage’ statutory framework. It is for schools, governing bodies and academy trusts to ensure the school day includes opportunities for social interaction, physical activity and enrichment. Government guidance sets out an expectation that the school week in all state-funded mainstream schools should be at least 32.5 hours including breaks. This helps ensure that schools have sufficient time to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum, alongside opportunities for play and wider enrichment.
Regulations require schools maintained by a local authority to structure the school day with a morning session and an afternoon session, separated by a midday break. This lunch break is an important and protected part of the day, offering pupils time to rest, socialise and play. The precise way in which the school day is structured is a matter for schools themselves.
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