Letters to Send
Find templates for useful letter to send below, referencing the Play Is Learning Campaign
MP Letter Template
Dear [MP Name],
I am writing to you following the parliamentary debate held on Monday 26 January 2026 on the petition “Make Play and Continuous Provision statutory in England’s Key Stage 1 Curriculum.” I watched the debate and was encouraged by the number of MPs who spoke in support of play-based learning and highlighted the importance of developmentally appropriate practice for children aged 5–7.
The level of support shown during the debate demonstrated that this issue matters to MPs across Parliament and reflects the concerns of parents, educators, and professionals working with young
children. With this in mind, I am writing to ask you to actively support the Play is Learning Campaign by writing to the Department for Education to advocate for change.
The campaign calls on the government to revise statutory guidance for Key Stage 1 so that play-based pedagogy becomes a core component of the curriculum. Its aim is to extend the highly effective practices seen in Early Years into Key Stage 1, ensuring that children continue to benefit from a developmentally appropriate, play-based learning approach. This should be done through statutory provision, or at the very least, recommended in an advisory government guidance and Ofsted document as a crucial pedagogical approach for learning and positive mental health. Without this in place, despite the evidence, many schools will continue to use a formal and traditional way of teaching, which, as research shows, is not the best way for children to learn.
This matters because:
· UNICEF and UNESCO affirm that play-based learning remains critical up to at least age 8, the Key Stage 1 years. The UN recognises play as a legal right under Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
· England is the only UK nation where play-based learning is not protected in Key Stage 1, creating a policy cliff edge as children move from EYFS to Year 1.
· Nearly 40% of pupils do not meet expected standards by the end of primary school, a gap that play-based pedagogy has been shown to reduce.
· 1 in 6 children aged 7–10 has a probable mental health condition. Play-based learning strengthens resilience, reduces stress and supports emotional wellbeing.
Together, these indicators highlight an urgent need for developmentally appropriate learning environments in Key Stage 1 (aged 5 - 7 years).
Given the strong support demonstrated during the parliamentary debate, please will you write to the Department for Education to express your support for strengthening play-based learning and continuous provision within the Key Stage 1 curriculum.
Thank you very much for taking the time to consider my request and for representing the views of families and professionals in your constituency. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Letter for Headteachers
Dear [Headteacher’s Name],
I’m writing regarding the national ‘Play is Learning’ campaign and petition, led by Ruth Lue-Quee (My Mummy Teacher), which surpassed 106,000 signatures and was debated in Parliament on 26 January 2026.
I watched the debate and was encouraged by the number of MPs who spoke in support of play-based learning and the importance of developmentally appropriate practice for children aged 5 - 7.
With this in mind, I’m writing to open a conversation about how play-based learning and continuous provision are supported within Key Stage 1 at our school. The campaign is focused on strengthening statutory guidance so that play-based pedagogy becomes a recognised and protected approach within Key Stage 1. This is not about “enrichment”; it is about how 5 - 7 year-olds learn best, and ensuring that research-informed teaching approaches continue beyond the Early Years Foundation Stage.
The reason I’m raising this now is that the evidence base points to both educational and wellbeing benefits, and I’m keen to understand how our school’s approach reflects this:·
In England, nearly 40% of children leave primary school without meeting expected standards in reading, writing and maths, yet research consistently links play-based approaches to stronger outcomes, including language, early literacy, problem-solving and self-regulation.
· NHS data shows 15% of 7–10 year-olds now have a probable mental health condition, and play is widely recognised as a protective factor for emotional wellbeing and resilience.
· International bodies such as UNICEF and UNESCO recognise play-based learning as critical up to at least age 8.England is currently the only UK nation where play-based learning is not protected in Key Stage 1.
Many describe the transition from Reception to Year 1 as a “policy cliff edge”, where the statutory emphasis on play ends abruptly despite children’s developmental needs remaining the same.
This campaign seeks to bridge that gap.I would be very grateful if you could share the school’s current position and practice in KS1, for example:
· What does play-based learning look like in Year 1 and Year 2 at our school?
· Roughly how much of the day/week involves continuous provision or learning through play, and how does that sit alongside phonics, reading, writing and maths?
· How do you support the Reception-to-Year 1 transition so it doesn’t feel like such a big jump for children?
If the school is already implementing play-based learning/continuous provision in KS1, I’d be delighted if you would consider adding the school to be celebrated on the campaign list:
• Campaign link (to share with staff/parents):https://mmtplay.com/pages/play-is-learning-campaign
• ‘Play-based learning schools’ list form:https://forms.gle/fLbATA6nL5sf632s6
If the school is interested in exploring this area further, I also wanted to make you aware of the Move More and Play - Reimagining Early Childhood conference, taking place on Friday 5 June 2026 at Aston University. The event is aimed at Early Years and Key Stage 1 teachers, practitioners and leaders, and focuses on movement, play and child development in practice. I thought it may be of interest to colleagues who would like to hear more, reflect on current practice, or explore how play-based pedagogy can be implemented in school settings. Details can be found here:https://www.tickettailor.com/events/movemoreandplayltd/1508989
And if the school is interested in strengthening or exploring this approach further, the campaign team can share examples of practice and connect schools who are developing their KS1 play-based pedagogy. I’m very happy to make an introduction if that would be helpful.Please do let me know a suitable time and date for a meeting to discuss this further.
With best wishes,[Your Name]
Parent of [Child’s Name], [Class]