London MP Natasha Irons said it was time to “get serious about play” as she hosted the launch of the interim report from the Play Commission in Parliament this week.

The Raising the Nation Play Commission, a year-long independent inquiry into why play is critical to the wellbeing of children in England, has published its Interim Report, ‘State of Play’.

London Play was one of more than 150 organisations and individuals submitting evidence to the commission, and was at the House of Commons to take part in the launch.

The report sets out the huge benefits of play for children and calls on the government to introduce a National Play Strategy to ‘get children playing again’, alongside legally binding requirement for councils in England to provide play facilities and opportunities for children, new funding for playgrounds, and a review into the use of ‘No Ball Games’ signs. It both highlights the significant barriers preventing children in England from playing, including a reduction in school playtime, and proposes solutions to government to make play an integral part of growing up again.

It argues a National Play Strategy is more urgent than ever, with around four in ten children living with an unhealthy weight, more than a quarter of children overweight (including obese), one in five children and young people in England struggling with a diagnosable mental health problem, and around one in three children not school ready.

The interim report acknowledges the unique nature of adventure playgrounds and commits to investigating their role further ahead of the final report:

“Adventure playgrounds can be particularly effective in encouraging children and young people into natural spaces, and we have received a wealth of evidence specifically about their importance and how they can differ from the typical ‘local playground’.

We are planning to hear more from adventure playground practitioners ahead of our final report publication in June.”

From ‘STATE OF PLAY: An interim report from the Raising the Nation Play Commission

Croydon East MP Natasha Irons and Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes told those attending the launch that they have already involved colleagues across government and were confident that those with the power to change things were ready to listen and act. Ringfenced funding for play was highlighted as crucial to the success of the vision by several present.

The Commission was launched in June 2024 by its chair, entrepreneur and campaigner Paul Lindley OBE – founder of the Ella’s Kitchen baby food brand. It is working in partnership with former Children’s Commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield’s Centre for Young Lives think tank. Its final report will be published in June.