Play therapy

That this House recognises the importance of play therapy in helping children who are experiencing mental illness or trauma and considers that therapy to be an essential component of the covid-19 recovery programme; notes that play therapy is an internationally recognised and highly cost effective health intervention for children for whom talking therapies like counselling are not always appropriate; further notes that play is essential to every child’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, creative and language developmental needs, assisting the learning process for all children and young people including those for whom verbal communication may be challenging; commends the role of organisations such as Play Therapy UK, Play Therapy International and the professional, highly-trained UK play therapist workforce who are currently supporting some of our most vulnerable children; and calls on the Government to acknowledge the vital role of play therapy in its covid-19 recovery programme and ensure that play therapy is one of the core services provided by the new and developing network of family hubs recently announced by the Minister for Children and Families.