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Open Require every primary school to have a published plan for outdoor free play

Created by Michael Follett
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We call on the Government to require every primary school in England to publish a plan for outdoor free play at breaktimes and lunchtime, and for the Department for Education to produce statutory guidance defining what quality provision looks like, with Ofsted required to inspect against it.

This was a key recommendation of the 2025 Play Commission report. Breaktimes make up 20% of the school day, yet, despite it being essential for wellbeing, no school is required to plan for outdoor free play. They must have carbon reduction plans, but not one for play. With screen time rising and play outside school declining, for many children, school playtime is their only active outdoor play. Play is never inspected. Why does the DfE not care about the quality of 20% of what schools do?

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