About CPIS

The Children's Play Information Service (CPIS) is a specialist information resource providing information on all aspects of children’s play, focusing on school-age children. CPIS is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Big Lottery Fund through Play England.

Reference library
CPIS houses the national  collection of information on children’s play, and has a large number of resources, including over 10,000 books, reports, pamphlets and journal articles on various play topics. Specific areas covered include play theories, design, safety, policy and research. The library is open on Mondays to Fridays 10.00am to 5.00pm, and we welcome visitors, including group visits by playwork students and their tutors - please contact us to make an appointment.

Enquiry service
CPIS provides a free enquiry service to anyone with a professional or academic interest in children's play. If you need information on any aspect of play, or if you would like us to do a literature search for you, please contact us by telephone, email or letter.

Other services
CPIS provides a number of additional free services, including factsheets and reading lists, details of play designers and play consultants. CPIS also produces three free monthly e-bulletins: Children's Play Update, Play Abstracts, and Play Conferences & Events. In addition, CPIS contributes to PlayToday, the free quarterly journal produced by Play England. 

CPIS Advisory Group
The Advisory Group meets twice a year to advise and support the work of CPIS, and the meetings are observed by a representative from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Members of the group are selected because of their expertise in the fields of play or information, rather than representing their own organisations.