What is OPAL?
Research has shown that children spend 20% of their time in school playing. To ensure that this time and our fantastic school grounds are used to their full potential our school has adopted an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) philosophy that allows the children freedom to explore play in their own imaginative ways, often using found and gathered resources in the natural outdoor environment.
An OPAL approach promotes a more inclusive play environment in which all children can feel comfortable to express themselves. Our OPAL journey began in Spring 2017 and since this time, we have quickly transformed our outdoor environment. Our children love the new outdoor opportunities that OPAL offers with so much more for them to do, no matter the weather! From playing with tyres and digging in the sand pit, to enjoying imaginative play in the small world area or cooking up a storm in the mud kitchen, OPAL offers an exciting alternative to the standard playground activities.
Through this approach to play children are not only more active at lunch or break times, but they are also having the opportunity to further develop life skills such as cooperation, team work and problem solving. They are becoming motivated and enthusiastic builders, engineers, explorers and designers.
What our children think?
Although we have been working extremely hard to improve our OPAL provision the most important thing to us is what the children think about their playtimes. Take a look at some of the things our children had to say during a recently pupil survey…
“OPAL is a dream come true! There’s lots of exciting things to do and play with.” – Millie: Y3 Pupil
“I really like eating my dinners outside and Fridays are really good because all the teachers come out to play with us.” – Sophie: Y4 Pupil
“Now it’s much more fun. Awesome!” – Jake: Y1 Pupil
“It’s amazing because we can now make dens and we can explore anywhere we want” – Holly and Charlie: Y6 Pupils
What our community think?
We have also been communicating with parents to ensure they understand our OPAL provision and the changes we make to our playtimes. Take a look at some of the things our community had to say about OPAL at our school…
“AMAZING! There is so much for the children to do and so much space! Staff have a great time too. Children willingly take risks and play creatively. Older children take responsibility for younger children when playing and it is lovely to see them mixing!” – Mrs Randell: EYFS Leader.
“I really enjoyed coming into school to see the OPAL area and plant a flower. The OPAL area is excellent and there is so much for the children to do” – Ruth Cunningham: Parent
“Very good ideas and great initiative” – Malgorzata Letkiewicz: Parent
“A lot less First Aid and incidents. More exciting and more for the children to do. Good use of all the school grounds now!” – Mrs Dunn: Teaching Assistant
“Absolutely fantastic my little girl loves OPAL Play” – Amy Sharafi and David Thompson: Parents
“Many more children are fully engaged now using all of the outdoor space. Groupings are mixed and more fluid which is a good thing. Children can be seen being creative and just having lots of fun!” – Mrs Donnelly: Y6 Teacher
What we’ve been up to?
Take a look at the links below to get an idea of all the fantastic things the children have been up to and just how much fun they are having…
OPAL Community Opening Day – May 2017
OPAL Community Planting Day – June 2018
Take a look at the pictures below to find out what OPAL looks like at our school…
Check out the up to date OPAL information below:
