Advocating for a Play-Based Revolution: Why Ruth Lue-Quee aka My Mummy Teacher is Calling for Education Reform in England
In the dynamic world of education, few voices resonate as clearly and passionately as Ruth Lue-Quee, widely known as My Mummy Teacher. As a highly qualified Education & Inclusion Consultant and the founder of MMT Play, Ruth is spearheading a critical movement to reshape England's Key Stage 1 (KS1) curriculum, advocating for a play-based approach that she believes is vital for children's development and lifelong love of learning.... Her mission is clear: to empower parents and professionals to help all children learn through play.
Based in the West Midlands, UK, Ruth Lue-Quee (MEd, BEd, QTS, NPQSL) brings extensive experience as a primary school Deputy Headteacher and a senior leader in both mainstream and specialist provisions. Growing up with teachers in her family, she developed a deep love for education and child development, always knowing she wanted to be a teacher. Ruth founded My Mummy Teacher and MMT Play in 2020 with the aim of helping parents, carers, and professionals truly engage, educate, and entertain young children through play.
Ruth passionately believes that children learn best through play, considering it the "work of the child," as echoed by educational greats like Piaget and Montessori.... She has seen the "many benefits" of active learning through play throughout her career.
The Core Issue: A Broken System for Young Learners
The impetus behind Ruth's current campaign stems from a fundamental concern about the "stark shift to formal teaching strategies" that many children experience as they transition from Reception to Year 1 and throughout KS1 in England9. While the Early Years Framework emphasises the importance of play, this focus often diminishes significantly past Reception.
Ruth and her supporters argue that this formalised approach fails to reflect how young children genuinely learn. They believe that children's brains and bodies are not designed for prolonged periods of sitting still, especially at young ages like four years old. Movement and play, in fact, lead to academic success.
A key point of contention is that, unlike England, Scotland and Wales already protect play-based learning as an integral part of their Key Stage 1 curriculum. Ruth emphasises that children in England are "no different" from those in Scotland or Wales and therefore deserve the same protected way of teaching and learning.
The Call to Action: Making Play Statutory in KS1
To address this critical gap, Ruth Lue-Quee has launched a parliamentary petition titled "Make Play and Continuous Provision statutory in England's Key Stage 1 Curriculum".... The petition calls for a revision of statutory guidance for KS1 to make play-based pedagogy a core part of the National Curriculum, extending the best practices seen in Early Years. The goal is to create a reformed education system that meets children's developmental needs, supports their well-being, allows for movement and communication, and fosters a true love of learning.
The petition can be signed here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/729440/
The campaign requires 100,000 signatures to be considered for a debate in Parliament. The petition has gathered 53,634 signatures and is waiting for a government response after surpassing the 10,000-signature mark. This rapid progress, over 50,000 signatures in 5 days, includes support from public figures like Giovanna Fletcher and Izzy Judd, demonstrating the widespread desire for this change.
Ruth has been tirelessly advocating for learning through play for five years, hearing countless parents and educators express their desire for better education for children. Now, she urges everyone to "take action" and get their collective voice heard. She acknowledges that this campaign is a challenge, requiring continuous pushing for change and maximum visibility for the petition, but it's a challenge she "won't stop until our children are taught the right way".
Challenging "School Readiness" and Formalisation
The sentiment among Ruth and many other educational and medical professionals, teachers, and parents is that the current focus on formalised learning and specific "school readiness" metrics is deeply flawed. As Ruth notes, the idea that "Half can't sit still" at four years old is "infuriating," as children of that age are naturally meant to move. Research from numerous research papers, including the WHO and AAP back this. The existing Early Years provision is seen as understanding child development and teaching "the right way – through play".
The concern is that a system that expects young children to sit still for six hours a day, rather than allowing for independent play and movement, misses the mark. Instead, the advocates for play-based learning propose a model where focused teaching occurs in small groups, while other children are deeply engaged in independent play within their environment. This approach makes tasks playful, incorporating fun, game, and active elements, valuing play not as a "nice to have," but as a crucial right that deepens understanding in a child-led way.
This movement is not about revolutionising Reception itself but about extending its best practices – the understanding of child development and teaching through play – into Key Stage 1. The aim is to place children at the centre of education, ensuring that teaching methods are developmentally appropriate for their brains, bodies, and way of being.
Your Role in the Education Revolution
Ruth needs the collective support of parents, partners, friends, colleagues, and neighbours to champion children's childhood, learning, and play "the right way". She asks those who agree that "children are more than data" to follow @mymummyteacher and join the movement.
If you believe that children deserve a playful and developmentally appropriate education, this is your opportunity to make a tangible difference. Sign the petition today and share it with everyone you know... Your voice can help bring this vital discussion into Parliament and help secure a brighter, more playful future for England's children. Don't forget to come back and let Ruth know when you've signed and shared!