Play England takes the case for play to BBC Breakfast

Playday 2026 got off to a brilliant start as our Elected Director and playworker Amber Ogunsanya-William joined BBC Breakfast for feature on children’s play.

Appearing on behalf of Play England, Amber brought the joy and importance of play to the famous red sofa, talking about what children gain from having the freedom to play and why play needs to be valued as an essential part of childhood.

The interview came as Playday, the national day for play, celebrated its 39th year under the theme Play: here, there and everywhere!

But our message this Playday goes beyond one day of celebration . . .

Too many children are growing up without enough space, time, opportunity and freedom to play. Play England is calling on the Government to develop a new cross-government National Play Strategy, underpinned by Play Sufficiency legislation and backed by £125m per year (that’s just 20p, per child per week!) to help change that.

England has now gone through an entire childhood - 18 years - without a National Play Strategy. Our ten-year strategy - It All Starts With Play! sets a clear objective: to restore a play-based childhood for all children in England by 2035.

Children should be able and welcome to play at home, at school, in parks, streets and throughout their communities, on Playday and every day.

#ItAllStartsWithPlay #NationalPlayStrategy #PlaySufficiency #RightToPlay