Call to revive play at UK schools to tackle ‘escalating crisis’ in child health

The organisation Opal Play helps primary schools improve playtime with a focus on junk equipment such as tyres, rope and sand, as well as dressing up. Photograph: lovethephoto/Alamy

Campaigners studying play and childhood are calling for a major focus on reviving play in schools to tackle an “escalating crisis” in child mental and physical health.

The “plan for play” launched on Tuesday outlines a vision for the Department for Education to require every school to have a play plan that would be subject to Ofsted inspection. Under the proposals, teachers would be taught about play-based learning for children of all ages, not only early years.