MPS are calling on the government to legislate to require local authorities and housing associations to remove unnecessary “No Ball Games” signs, to make public spaces more usable for children’s play.
The ‘Game On’ report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee highlights the critical role of everyday spaces including streets, estates and local green areas, in helping children stay active. It recommends that councils and housing providers be required to remove unnecessary restrictions that prevent children from playing close to home.
The Committee heard evidence that simple changes such as creating play-friendly streets, improving residential spaces and making better use of existing neighbourhood areas can have a significant impact on children’s activity levels. In places where access to formal sports facilities is limited, these local spaces can be especially important.
While the report focuses primarily on organised sport and school-based activity, it also recognises that children’s physical activity extends beyond structured settings. MPs note that daily movement can include informal play, alongside walking, cycling and participation in sport.
The findings come amid wider concerns about unequal access to space and opportunities for activity. The report highlights how facility shortages, rising costs and competing demands for space are affecting participation, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Schools are identified as a key part of the solution, with MPs calling for renewed investment to open up school sports facilities for community use outside teaching hours. The £57m Opening Schools Facilities Fund which previously supported this work came to an end in 2025.
The Committee also calls for a more coordinated national approach, recommending a cross-government strategy to increase physical activity and tackle inequalities.
For organisations working to support children’s play, the report adds to growing recognition that enabling activity is not only about formal provision, but also about ensuring that everyday spaces are safe, welcoming and accessible for children where they live.
Read the report here