Why playtime matters and how to make it work | Therese Hoyle on Creating Value In Schools

Playtimes in schools are under pressure. Children are playing 50% less than a generation ago, behaviour is getting harder to manage, and playtime is getting squeezed out.

Episode: 29
Listening time: 36 minutes
Released: 21 April 2026

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Episode content

In this episode, Liz Worthen talks to Positive Playtime champion Thérèse Hoyle – coach, author and founder of the Positive Playtime Award Programme – about why play is so vital for children's wellbeing, learning and resilience, and how schools can make it work in practice.

We address common barriers to play in schools, including:

How to navigate concerns about risky play, bring parents on board, and build a culture where children learn to assess risk themselves
How to upskill and deploy lunchtime supervisors more effectively
How to make equipment last longer and keep children more engaged
How to make creative use of limited playground space with a zoning approach.

Struggling with playground behaviour, staff deployment at lunchtime, or getting the most from a limited budget? Listen for straightforward, actionable ideas.

Guest contributor

Thérèse Hoyle is Director and Founder of Positive Playtimes and the Positive Playtime Award programme. An experienced coach and teacher, she regularly consults and advises schools on play, behaviour management, mental health, and the social and emotional needs of children and teens.