The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Play was held on Wednesday 21 October 2026.

The meeting included the election of officers, approval of its annual Income and Expenditure Statement, and consideration of its priorities and forward programme for 2026/27, including proposals for a possible National Inquiry into Adventure Playgrounds in England.

In attendance was :

• Tom Hayes MP

• Lord Howard of Rising

• Natasha Irons MP

• Leigh Ingham MP

• Callum Anderson MP

• Emily Darlington MP

• Richard Quigley MP

• Lola McEvoy MP

• Shivani Raja MP

Please find a copy:

• APPG on Play AGM Annual Report 2025-6

• APPG on Play Due diligence statement 2025-6

• APPG on Play Income and Expenditure 2025-6

The AGM is for MPs and Peers only and there is no any other content or speakers.

Contact: appg@playengland.org.uk for further information or to express interest in attending.

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The next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play will take place on Wednesday 8 July 2026, from 17:00–18:30 in Committee Room 17, House of Commons.

Attendance is strictly by invitation only.

Contact: appg@playengland.org.uk for further information or to express interest in attending.

This session will focus on Digital Play and Social Media, examining children’s play, rights, safety and wellbeing in digital environments.

The meeting will explore the opportunities and risks of digital play, the impact of social media on childhood, international approaches to regulation, and the rights implications for children’s time, space and freedom to play.

The session will bring together expert perspectives on digital play, online safety, children’s rights and emerging policy debates, including international approaches such as the Australia ban and the Canada model.

Discussions will include:

1. An overview of digital play and family gaming, led by Andy Robertson, digital play expert and founder of the Family Gaming Database, including reflections from his forthcoming book, Digital Playgue.

2. Perspectives from Lizzie Hacking, Yondr, on phone-free school approaches, pupil wellbeing, social interaction and the reported impact on play during breaktimes and lunchtimes.

3. Reflections from Dr Naomi Lott, University of Reading, on the Australia ban, the Canada model and the rights implications of regulating children’s access to digital spaces and social media.

4. An overview from Dr Amanda Gummer, Fundamentally Children on the Children’s Digital Wellbeing Framework an evidence-based model designed to help educators, parents, and tech developers support a healthy online balance

Summer Recess – Recommendations for Members 

• Watch: Toy Story 5

• Read: The Amazing Generation

• Celebrate: Playday 2026 - Visit your local events / Adventure Playgrounds

Full Agenda

Meeting Slide Deck

Minutes of the Meeting [DRAFT]

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The next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play will take place on Wednesday 10 June 2026, from 17:00–18:30 in Committee Room 21, House of Commons.

Attendance is strictly by invitation only.

Contact: appg@playengland.org.uk for further information or to express interest in attending.

This session will focus on the International Day of Play and bring together the Home Nations’ national play organisations to discuss current policy developments, national campaigns and approaches to supporting children’s play across the United Kingdom.

The meeting takes place ahead of the International Day of Play (11 June 2026), National Week of Play (29 June – 5 July 2026) and Playday (5 August 2026), providing an opportunity to reflect on the growing recognition of play as a fundamental part of childhood and its contribution to health, wellbeing, learning and community life.

The session will bring together leaders from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to share perspectives on the current state of play policy, emerging priorities and opportunities for collaboration across the UK.

Discussions will include:

1. An overview of the International Day of Play 2026 – Play 31 Challenge, led by the Children’s Play Policy Forum, highlighting the global movement to recognise and celebrate children’s right to play.

2. A preview of National Week of Play 2026, led by the Early Years Alliance, exploring how stories and imaginative play can support children’s development through the theme Books and Beyond: Bringing Stories to Life Through Imaginative Play.

3. An update on Playday 2026, the UK’s national day for play, and this year’s theme Play – Here, There, Everywhere!

4. Perspectives from Play Wales, Play Scotland and PlayBoard NI on current policy developments, national priorities and approaches to advancing children’s play across the Home Nations.

Full Agenda

Meeting Slide Deck

Minutes of the Meeting [DRAFT]

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PLEASE NOTE: Due to the parliamentary timetable, the APPG on Play meeting scheduled for Wednesday 29 April 2026 will no longer take place.

Parliament is scheduled to rise on 30 April 2026, with prorogation likely to take place on 29 April 2026 (TBC) ahead of the King’s Speech. This timing also coincides with the Local Elections on 7 May 2026 and the State Opening of Parliament on 13 May 2026.

The next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play will take place on Wednesday 29 April 2026, from 17:00–18:30 in Committee Room 20, House of Commons.

Attendance is strictly by invitation only.

Contact: appg@playengland.org.uk for further information or to express interest in attending.

This session will focus on Article 31: The Right to Play, exploring how a child rights-based approach to play can be embedded across policy, planning and practice.

The meeting will examine the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), including Article 31, which recognises play as a fundamental right, and what this means for national and local decision-making.

The session will bring together legal, policy and practice perspectives to explore how the right to play can be implemented in practice.

Discussions will include:

1. An overview of Article 31 and the UNCRC, examining the legal and policy framework underpinning children’s right to play, and practical approaches to delivering the right to play, including the Space, Time, Acceptance, Rights (STAR) framework, presented by University of Reading.

2. A detailed exploration of General Comment No. 17 (2013) including the obligations on government to secure children’s right to play and the measures required for implementation, presented by Play Wales.

3. Insights from Play Their Way, highlighting child-first approaches in sport and activity, and how children’s rights to play, develop and be heard can be embedded in practice, presented by UK Coaching.

Full Agenda

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The next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play will take place on Wednesday 18 March 2026, from 17:00–18:30 in Committee Room 17, House of Commons.

Attendance is strictly by invitation only. Contact: appg@playengland.org.uk to express interest in attending.

This session will focus on Play Well: Health Play Services, exploring the role of therapeutic play in children’s healthcare and the contribution of specialist play teams across the NHS.

The meeting follows the Westminster Hall debate on Therapeutic Play and Children’s Healthcare held on 6 January 2026, which highlighted the importance of play in supporting children through treatment, reducing anxiety, improving clinical outcomes, and supporting family wellbeing.

The session will bring together practitioners, researchers and sector organisations working across healthcare, education and mental health to examine how play is embedded within hospital settings and how the specialist workforce supporting this work can be strengthened.

Discussions will include:

1. An overview of the NHS Play Well Toolkit, developed by Starlight, which supports hospitals and healthcare providers to embed play as a core part of children’s healthcare.

2. Discussion from the Society of Health Play Specialists (SoHPS) on workforce development and the skills needed to support therapeutic play across health settings.

3. Case studies from University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) on the delivery of specialist health play services, including work in areas such as imaging, radiotherapy and youth services.

4. Perspectives on SEND play in healthcare from Jiraffe, highlighting approaches to supporting children with additional needs within hospital environments.

5. Contributions from Play Therapy UK on the Child Mental Health Charter, and the role of play-based approaches in supporting children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Full Agenda

Meeting Slide Deck

Minutes of the Meeting [DRAFT]

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The next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play will take place on Wednesday 25 February 2026, from 17:00 to 18:30 in Committee Room 17, House of Commons.

Attendance is strictly by invitation only. Contact: appg@playengland.org.uk to express interest in attending.

This session will focus on Adventure Playgrounds and Playwork, exploring the historical development, social value and current sustainability challenges facing staffed adventure playground provision in England. The meeting will also examine the role of playwork and the professional infrastructure that underpins the sector.

Discussions will include:

1. A briefing and presentation on the historical and current landscape of adventure playgrounds by Dr Mike Wragg, Leeds Beckett University & Play Bradford Adventure Playground, and Sereena Keymatlian, Haringey Play Association & Somerford Grove Adventure Playground

2. A presentation on lived experience from adventure playgrounds and playworkers by Amber Ogunsanya-William, Playworker & Alex William, Senior Playworker - Weavers Adventure Playground

3. A screening of the London Adventure Play Exchange (APEX) film

4. An overview of the National Playwork Conference by Meynell Walters, Conference Organiser

5. A presentation on the UK-wide review of the Playwork National Occupational Standards by Martin King-Sheard, UK Playwork NOS Consortium / Play Wales

Full Agenda

Meeting Slide Deck

Minutes of the Meeting [DRAFT]

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The next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play will take place on Wednesday 21 January 2026, from 17:00 to 18:30 in Committee Room 18, House of Commons.

Attendance is strictly by invitation only. Contact: appg@playengland.org.uk to express interest in attending.

This session will focus on Play in Early Years and Schools, discussing the petition to make learning through play statutory in Key Stage 1, ahead of the Westminster Hall debate on 26 January 2026 to debate the petition. The session will also provide wider context on play-based approaches in early years and schools.

Discussions will include:

1. A briefing and presentation on the petition by Ruth Lue-Quee, My Mummy Teacher & Anna Roughley, Campaign Advisor

2. A presentation on Play Matters by Dr Aaron Bradbury, Nottingham Trent University & Dr Karen Boardman, Edge Hill University

3. A panel contribution on play in Schools from OPAL, Youth Sport Trust, Positive Playtime and Teachers.

Full Agenda

Meeting Slide Deck

Minutes of the Meeting [DRAFT]

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The next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Play will take place in Parliament. Full details will be confirmed and published shortly.

Attendance is strictly by invitation only. Contact: appg@playengland.org.uk to express interest in attending.

This session will focus on Playgrounds and the Play Industry, exploring the stark inequalities in England’s 34,000 playgrounds, the role of designers, manufacturers, installers and inspectors, and the implications of the recent Budget announcement of £18 million for England’s playgrounds over the next two years.

Discussions will include:

• Budget 2025 update on the £18 million investment for playground refurbishment and improvement

• England’s national playground landscape, with new analysis from the University of Sheffield showing significant geographical and socio-economic inequalities

• Pride in Place case studies, illustrating how neighbourhood conditions shape children’s everyday access to play

• The Playces platform, supporting local authorities to plan, map and improve playable spaces

• Insights from the British Play Industry, including perspectives from leading organisations across design, manufacturing, installation and inspection

• Recommendations for strengthening national policy and local delivery, ensuring investment improves access, quality and sustainability

Full Agenda

Meeting Slide Deck

Minutes of the Meeting [DRAFT]

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The next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play will take place on Wednesday 29 October 2025, from 17:00 to 18:30 in Committee Room 17, House of Commons.

Attendance is strictly by invitation only. Contact: appg@playengland.org.uk to express interest in attending.

This session will focus on Play Sufficiency in policy and practice, exploring how legislation and local delivery can work together to ensure every child has the time, space and opportunity to play.

Discussions will include:

1. House of Commons Library Briefing on Children, Young People and the Built Environment

2. An update on the Pride in Place: Delivering for Play

3. Updates on Play Sufficiency amendments (NC82 & A179) to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

4. A workshop on Play Sufficiency in Practice led by Dr Wendy Russell, University of Gloucestershire and Mike Barclay, Ludicology

5. Consideration of an outline draft Statutory Instrument on Play Sufficiency

Full Agenda

Meeting Slide Deck

Minutes of the Meeting [DRAFT]

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On Tuesday 2nd September 2025, the inaugural Annual General Meeting and first official meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Play will take place, during which the parliamentarian officers will be elected for the coming year.

Attendance is strictly by invitation only.

Our first meeting will introduce the group, elect officers, and provide an overview of key national developments. The outline agenda is:

1. Election of Officers and confirmation of APPG purpose

2. Briefing: History and Impact of the First APPG on Play (2005–2010)

3. Play England’s new 10-year strategy, launched at the House of Commons on 13 May 2025: It All Starts with Play! (2025–2035)

   • 2024 Manifesto - Smoking ban, NPPF changes

   • Play Sufficiency: NC82 & A179

4. Raising the Nation Play Commission Final Report, launched at the House of Lords on 11 June 2025: Everything to Play For

5. APPG forward plan for future meetings dates, themes/topics and guest speakers.

Full Agenda

Meeting Slide Deck

Minutes of the Meeting

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