Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of whether pupils’ access to high-quality play opportunities during the school day varies by a) school funding levels, b) geographic location or c) deprivation, and what steps are being taken to address any such disparities.

No assessment has been made of whether pupils’ access to high-quality play opportunities during the school day varies by school funding levels, geographic location or deprivation.

Schools are expected to organise the school day and school week in the best interests of their pupil cohort, to both provide them with a full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude and ability, and to incorporate time for play and other activities.

The department is working to make sure that all children and young people have access to a variety of enrichment opportunities at school, as an important part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity. A new Enrichment Framework will be published in the coming months. The framework will support schools in developing their enrichment offer by identifying and reflecting effective practice and will provide advice on how to plan a high quality enrichment offer more intentionally and strategically.