Exciting News: We Are Becoming an OPAL School!

We are delighted to share that our school is beginning its journey with Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) (Outdoor Play and Learning).

OPAL is a nationally recognised programme that helps schools improve the quality of play opportunities for children. Through this approach, we aim to enrich playtimes by creating more varied, imaginative, and inclusive outdoor experiences that support children’s happiness, wellbeing, and development.

Research shows that high-quality play is essential for children’s physical health, social skills, emotional resilience, creativity, and problem-solving. By developing our outdoor spaces and play provision, we want every child to have greater freedom to explore, create, take appropriate risks, and build confidence.

As part of our OPAL journey, you may notice changes to our outdoor environment, including the introduction of loose parts, natural materials, and new opportunities for adventurous play. This may sometimes mean children come home a little muddier than usual, but it also means they are learning, growing, and thriving through rich play experiences.

We value the support of our families and will be sharing ways you can get involved, including donations of resources and ideas to help us shape our play environment.

We are excited about the positive impact this will have on all our children and look forward to sharing our progress with you.