Watch my speech on boosting play in the school curriculum

What is play for? What benefits can it bring to children? And why should educational play stop at age five in England?

Anyone who has spent time watching children play can see that they are learning all the time: their young brains are puzzling over how to do something, how to collaborate with friends, find solutions, and build resilience.

High-quality education is the best possible investment we can make in the future of our country. As the bedrock of everything that follows, the early years are crucial, laying the foundation for learning, wellbeing, and opportunity.

Evidence suggests that between the ages of four and seven, play-based learning can have a positive impact on communication, as well as emotional and physical development.

A child’s fundamental development does not stop when they leave reception, so why does the Government think play is only important until the age of five? Other countries and regions in the UK have play embedded in their curriculum, so why is England lagging behind?