Labour's Play Strategy is in line to be scrapped after Treasury staff are reported to have identified the area as an example of wasteful spending.
Those hoping that frontline children's services would be protected from the government's £6 billion programme of cuts have greeted the news with anger.
Sir Paul Ennals, chief executive of the National Children's Bureau, said: "The government is entitled to cut public expenditure, particularly at this time, but it is not entitled to claim that these cuts are to reduce inefficiencies when in fact they are cutting frontline services delivered by children's charities to needy children.
"We know the government has to make very difficult decisions. But if some vital services need to be cut, we should do so with our eyes wide open. If the rumoured cuts are realised, this is not about reducing inefficiencies, it is about reducing the voluntary sector's work supporting some of the neediest communities." "
Adrian Voce, director of Play England, the body tasked with supporting the delivery of the play strategy, said: "The play strategy has so far produced 2,000 new or improved play areas and 30 fantastic staffed adventure playgrounds, not to mention the knock on effect of local areas responding by making play a bigger priority. Play England has ensured that this work has been of the highest possible standard, and pioneered changes to the risk-averse culture that was making so many playgrounds dull and unattractive to children.
"This translates as hundreds of thousands of children having the healthy, outdoor activities that they long for and that every parent knows is good for them. Research tells us that in terms of impact on children's health, learning and wider benefits to the whole community such as the reduction in crime, the play strategy has demonstrated excellent value for money and real benefit to the economy."
Earlier this month London Play chief executive Ute Navidi urged the coalition government to recognise the value of play after both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives' pre-election manifestos failed to mention the play strategy in their manifestos.
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