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Strategic play: 17 years on from England’s first National Play Strategy

2 mins read Youth Work
On 2 April 2008, the last Labour government launched England’s first - and only - National Play Strategy.

Ed Balls and Andy Burnham, both Secretaries of State at the time, quite literally swung into action at an adventure playground in south London to mark a moment that was set to transform play in England for a generation.

Developed in partnership with Play England, the strategy was bold, ambitious and forward-thinking. Backed by £235 million, it aimed to create 3,500 new play spaces across every local authority - including 30 staffed adventure playgrounds. More than just playgrounds, it set out to embed play into planning, housing, schools, transport and public space.

And crucially, it recognised play as a right - not a luxury - vital to children’s health, happiness and development.

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