Play in the key stage 1 curriculum
Petitions debate
The petition
In August 2025, Ruth Lue-Quee created a petition asking the Government to Make Play and Continuous Provision statutory in England's Key Stage 1 Curriculum.
Over 106,000 people agreed with Ruth and signed her petition.
Petitions debate
The Petitions Committee scheduled a debate on the petition in Westminster Hall.
It was led by Dr Roz Savage MP on Monday 26 January 2026.
During the debate, Roz thanked the Ruth and the people who signed the petition:
“I thank the creator of the petition, Ruth Lue-Quee, who is in the Public Gallery with many others who feel passionately about this issue; Ruth is a former deputy headteacher and now an education consultant.
“I also thank the more than 106,000 people who signed the petition, including more than 200 people from my South Cotswolds constituency.”
Roz spoke in support of the ask of the petition:
“England is still the only country in the home nations with no statutory expectation that play-based learning should continue beyond age five. That is a policy choice, not an inevitability.
“Secondly, play-based learning is not enrichment; it is different. It is a core pedagogical approach grounded in evidence about how young children’s brains develop and how deep learning takes place.
“Thirdly, guided play in classrooms and free play in playgrounds are not luxuries. Together, and complementing each other, they build the cognitive, emotional, social and creative foundations that children need—not only to pass tests, but to flourish as human beings in a rapidly changing world.”
Government response
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Olivia Bailey MP, responded to the debate on behalf of the Government.
She began by recognising the MPs' contributions to the debate and thanking those who signed the petition:
“I thank all hon. Members who have attended and contributed to this important debate, and thank all those who signed and engaged with the petition, particularly those who are in the Public Gallery to listen to the debate.”
She set out the current statutory framework:
“England’s early years foundation stage statutory framework recognises the importance of play, setting out that play, both indoors and outdoors, is essential for children’s development, including physical development, communication and language. I agree with colleagues that the impact of play on children’s development and wellbeing does not stop when they reach school age.”
She also outlined the importance of teachers and the government's position:
“Ultimately, however, we believe that teachers are best placed to apply their professional judgment and creativity to meet the pupils’ needs in this area.
“It is important that teachers have the flexibility to adapt their approach to best support each pupil to obtain the knowledge, skills and understanding that they should do during their education.
“We re-emphasised that principle in our response to the curriculum and assessment review last November, and that is why it would not be right for us to legislate to make play and continuous provision statutory in the key stage 1 curriculum.”
Ruth's response
“It was powerful to sit in Westminster Hall and hear MPs talk about the reality for 5-7 year olds and the ‘Reception to Year 1’ cliff-edge.
“Having my petition debated felt like a real step forward, not just for the Play is Learning Campaign, but for the children, families and teachers living this every day.
“It made me hopeful that change is possible and I’ll keep going until Key Stage 1 teaching and learning truly aligns to our children's developmental stage and how they learn best - through play.”
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