The lack of good play space is rising on the public agenda, this was evidenced this week by that fact that influential think-tanks Demos and Compass have raised the issue with support from Government ministers.

There have been growing indications that calls for national action onchildren's play are receiving widespread support from a range ofinfluential organisations, commentators and policy makers from acrossthe political spectrum.

Minister for culture David Lammy has called for those planning publicspace to put children's play at the heart of a new vision forcommunities.

In an article published by think-tank Compass earlier this month, Lammysays: "Children should be central to spatial planning principles andplayable landscapes, not just the beneficiaries of the occasionalplayground, built as an afterthought to the main design."

Suggesting that child poverty has spatial as well as materialdimensions, Lammy goes on to say that "for children to have the bestchance to be happy, healthy and to prosper, they need to have a realstake in the common spaces of their neighbourhoods ... This must startwith somewhere for our children - all our children - to play." Lammy hasagreed to meet with Play England to discuss its proposals for a nationalplay policy.

The full article, Making Space for Children - The Big Challenge for ourPublic Realm, is available on Compass's web site(www.compassonline.org.uk).

Compass has also launched a new campaign against the Commercialisationof Childhood, following the publication earlier this month of the GoodChildhood Inquiry's report on friendship.

The document cited restrictions on children's freedom to play outside asa major factor in declining social development and ability to sustainrelationships.

As well as a ban on all advertising to children under seven, thecampaign calls for serious measures to promote "provision of better playopportunities and safer streets".

Central to the campaign is a Charter for Childhood, which was launchedby MP Helen Goodman at a Compass conference on 10 June. Among measurescalled for are: the inclusion of play space in all new schools; measuresto promote play space within planning frameworks; and the recognition ofplayworkers as a key part of the children's workforce.

Perhaps most significantly, it identifies and calls for centralgovernment to promote play as a priority for local areas includingnational performance indicators and funding streams.

The full version of Compass's Charter for Childhood is on Compass's website.

Think-tank, Demos was also taking action this week. It presented thefindings of its research into children and public space to a Governmentconference attended by ministers from three different departments.

Children's minister Beverley Hughes, from the Department for Educationand Skills, and Baroness Andrews from the Department of Communities andLocal Government both attended as did Lammy, who is based at theDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport. Each was due to speak about theimportance of engaging children and young people in helping to shape thespaces where they live. Demos' full report Children Make Places,commissioned by Play England will be published later this summer.

BOOK REVIEW - Free Play in Early Childhood: A literature review

Joan Santer and Carol Griffiths, with Deborah Goodall

The authors have produced a timely review of research, writings andperspectives on free play in early childhood. It captures, and sets incontext, a broad range of views from historical perspectives - Plato,Piaget and more - to recent literature on play in the Foundation Stageand the Effective Provision of Preschool Education Project research.

Tracking recent Government initiatives from early excellence centres tochildren's centres, the review picks up the tensions between theincreasing recognition that play is important within policy frameworksfor early years, and the lack of clarity regarding the nature of playand its potential benefits.

The role of free play in development and learning has beenwell-documented, but this review summarises and references the keyelements and brings us up-to-date with current issues such as thecontribution free play opportunities make to children's health and theneed for challenging play.

If you are looking to add to your knowledge base about play in earlychildhood, or working on rolling out the new Early Years FoundationStage, this book provides valuable insights and overview.

- Reviewer: Judith Anderson, North West regional programme manager, PlayEngland.