What is OPAL?

The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme is the result of over 20 years of testing and development in over 800 schools and has been used in Spain, Canada, France and New Zealand. The programme has also been adapted and used in schools in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Austria under the Play Friendly Schools project. In 2018, OPAL won first prize in an EU-funded award for the best active school’s programme in Europe and two UK national playwork awards. In 2019, OPAL was awarded a quarter of a million pounds by Sport England to bring the programme to many more schools.

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 sure that this amount of time (equivalent to 1.4 years of primary school) is as good as possible.

What benefits are there to my child?

There are many proven benefits for schools that carry out the OPAL Primary Programme. They usually include: more enjoyment of school, less teaching time lost to disputes between children, fewer accidents and greatly improved behaviour.

More teaching time

Most schools report 10 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 an 80% reduction in the use of behaviour policies and a 90%

reduction in senior leadership time being spent resolving playtime issues.

Faster core skills development

Children at OPAL schools rapidly develop creativity, imagination, cooperation,

resilience, stamina and confidence.

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 schools report

feeling less stressed, happier, and more excited about school.

What is play?

Play is a process that is freely chosen, intrinsically motivated and self-directed.

Play is not messing about. It is the process evolution has come up with to enable children to learn all of the things that cannot be taught, while also having so much fun. There are certain things children must have in order to be able to play. These include:

• Having clothes that they can play in.
• Having things to play with.
• Having a certain amount of freedom.

The benefits of play are:

www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk

Please contact the following people for any additional information:

Miss Taylor (OPAL Curricular Lead) or Miss Bailey (OPAL Play Coordinator)

Click to view:
OPAL Policy