We are excited to become an Outdoor Play and Learning School (OPAL).
What is the OPAL programme:
Children in British primary schools spend 20% or 1.4 years of their school attendance in play and yet many schools have no strategic or values-based approach to play across all ages.
The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme is a mentor-supported school improvement programme. It addresses all of the areas schools must plan for it they want to strategically and sustainably improve the quality of their play opportunities.
The OPAL Primary Programme is the only programme of its kind that has been independently proven to sustainably improve the quality of play in British primary schools
Research shows that play contributes to children’s physical and emotional health, wellbeing, approach to learning and enjoyment of school. Given the importance of play in children’s lives and current concerns about children’s health and opportunity to access time and space to initiate their own play outdoors, there are considerable benefits for children, parents, school and the wider community from participating in OPAL’s programme. The OPAL Primary Programme supports schools in developing a cultural shift in thinking about and supporting children’s play. Its success comes from a series of interrelated actions undertaken with the specialist support from the OPAL mentor. This embeds play into school’s policies and practices and establishes clear guiding principles and strategies for initiating changes at playtimes. The results can be transformational and – at best – spectacular and show progress even in more challenging school environments.
What is OPAL?
Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) is a community interest (CIC) company dedicated to providing services to schools and organisations in England and Wales to improve the quality of play opportunities for all children. OPAL staff have expertise in teaching, school improvement, landscape design, project management, play and strategic planning.
What are the benefits of the OPAL Primary Programme?
More teaching time: most schools report ten minutes more teaching time per teacher with happier, more creative, and well exercised children who settle to classes much more quickly.
Improved behaviour: OPAL schools report up to 80% decreases in use of behaviour policies and 90% drops in senior leadership time spent in resolving playtime issues
Faster core skills development: children at OPAL schools rapidly develop creativity, imagination, cooperation, resilience, stamina and confident
Inclusion: OPAL’s approach makes play better for every child, every day…no exceptions!
Happiness and wellbeing: Play is a human need and a human right. Children and staff at OPAL’s schools report feeling less stressed and happier, and more excited about school.
Our OPAL play team:
Mrs O Gayer – Curricular Lead for Play
Miss N Peterkin – Play Coordinator
Mrs Jen Hacking – Parent Representative
Mr Eli Tabiri – Governor Representative
If you would like to learn more about the OPAL Primary Programme, please have a look at the OPAL website (www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk), where you will find lots of useful information and several videos about the programme.