The critical importance of play – Evie Keough
The newly published ‘State of Play’ interim report by the Raising the Nation Play Commission issues a stark warning: generations of children are spending less time playing, less time outside, less time with their friends, and more time inside glued to digital tech, at a time when millions of children are growing up unhealthy, unhappy, and not school ready.
With the decline of play in children’s lives reaching crisis levels, the publication of the report marks a crucial moment in the conversation about the importance of play. It highlights the alarming decline of play in schools and communities and calls for urgent action to restore play as a fundamental part of childhood development.
Evie Keough, founder of Boromi – a national network of ‘Play Libraries’ supported by SHINE – has long been a passionate advocate for the importance of play in early childhood.
Attending the report’s launch in Parliament on February 24th, she was thrilled to see the issue being championed with such passion.
“As the founder of a national ‘Network of Play’, it will come as no surprise that I spend most of my days shouting from the rooftops about the critical importance of play in early childhood, but the launch of the ‘State of Play’ interim report launch was a breath of fresh air,” she says.
“It was uplifting hearing from an expert panel and being in a room full of passionate, committed cross-sector professionals, all united in making play an urgent priority.”
The report brings to light several worrying trends: school playtime has been significantly reduced over the past 25 years, at least 400 playgrounds have closed between 2012 and 2022, and more than two million children up to age 9 do not live within a ten-minute walk of a playground.
These barriers are systematically stripping away opportunities for children to engage in essential play activities.
Evie says: “Play is not a luxury. It’s not just a nice add-on; it is a fundamental right and a vital foundation for lifelong learning, wellbeing, health, and happiness. Yet, as this report highlights, play is being systematically squeezed out of children’s lives – and the consequences are dire.”
The report highlights the broader impact of the decline of play. With around four-in-ten children living with an unhealthy weight, one-in-five facing diagnosable mental health issues, and approximately one-in-three not being school-ready, the erosion of play is contributing to a cascade of developmental challenges.
A major contributor to this decline is a systemic failure to fully recognise the essential role of play in education.
“Play is not separate from learning – play is learning. Resetting this narrative is crucial. We shouldn’t need to call something ‘play-based learning’ “just to justify its value and importance”, Evie stresses.
One of the key recommendations of the report is the introduction of a National Play Strategy for England.
Evie is firmly behind this proposal, saying, “At Boromi, we see firsthand the transformative impact of play in early childhood – not just for children, but for families and communities too. This report is a vital step towards ensuring play is not only recognised but embedded in national policy.”
The report also recommends incorporating play sufficiency within the Ofsted framework, requiring schools to report on play during the school day. While Evie supports the intention behind this, she cautions that it needs to be handled carefully. “The fundamental issue isn’t that schools are choosing to deprioritise play – it’s that the system, with its relentless focus on academic milestones, is forcing them to make tough choices.”
Evie acknowledges that “a deeper understanding of play could help inform these decisions”, and she welcomes stronger representation of play in both initial teacher training and ongoing professional development. However, she stresses that for schools to meaningfully prioritise play, Ofsted must boldly lead the way – not simply introduce another box to tick.
Despite the challenges, Evie is hopeful that the momentum generated by the commission will lead to lasting change. “There is momentum now. Conversations are happening, and there is a shift in focus under the new government, towards early years.
“The challenge is how to build political resilience so that we don’t repeat the cycle of progress being undone when political priorities change.
“We had something promising in 2008 with the launch of the last national play strategy, but since 2010, the picture has drastically changed. There’s a lot England could learn from the devolved nations – Scotland and Wales have enshrined children’s right to play in law, while England continues to lag behind.
“Now that we’re seeing positive momentum again, how do we ensure this shift lasts beyond political cycles?”
Looking ahead, Evie and many others in the sector are determined to ensure play gets the recognition and prioritisation it deserves.
“As Tom Hayes MP put it, we need to be unapologetically LOUD about play!” she says.
The ‘State of Play’ report serves as a wake-up call for the nation. As Evie puts it, “Play really matters. The next generation really matter. And it’s everybody’s business to get this right.”
By prioritising play, we can lay the groundwork for a healthier, happier, and more resilient generation – one that thrives academically and goes on to reach its full potential.