OPAL Play   

What is OPAL?

In March 2024, we began our exciting new project to make playtimes even even better, in conjunction with OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning). OPAL is based on the idea that, as well as learning through good teaching, your children also learn when they play. As 20% of their time in school is playtime, we want to make to make sure that every child has an amazing playtime every day. In order to achieve this we will be creating rich, stimulating outdoor environments that foster holistic development, enhance well-being, and promote a love of learning. The mission statement of OPAL is "To ensure that every schoolchild has an amazing playtime every day with no exceptions". 

There are many benefits to the OPAL programme including:

• Improving playtimes for all children meaning happier children and children who come into the classroom ready to learn
• Improving our play spaces across the school making the most of our wonderful spaces and ensuring a fully inclusive play offer
• Develops our school values encouraging children to be creative, resilient, independent and collaborative whilst respecting those around them
• Improving behaviour at playtimes
• It’s fun!

Please read our Play policy to find out more!

If you would like to learn more about the OPAL Primary Programme, please have a look at the OPAL website, where you will find lots of useful information and several videos about the programme.

Assemblies

Every few weeks we have a play assembly where we gather the children together to ensure that there is communication between adults and children about play. This forms a crucial part of the OPAL process it allows us to celebrate play, gain the children’s ideas about play development, discuss safety and risk management and then continue to innovate our playtimes.

We are also sharing news with our community through our newsletters.