We are very excited to be undertaking a playtime development project with support from an organisation called OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning). This is a strategic improvement programme designed to help us improve the quality of play in our school, ensuring we provide ‘amazing playtimes for every child, every day.’
Why OPAL?
The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme is the result of over 20 years of testing and development in over 2000 schools across the UK and internationally. It is action-research led, meaning it is always evolving and improving.
OPAL is based on the idea that, as well as learning through teaching, children also learn when they play. As 20% of their time in school is dedicated to playtime, we want to make sure that this amount of time (equivalent to 1.4 years of primary school) is as good as it can possibly be!
Considerable proven benefits have been gained by schools from participating in the OPAL Primary Programme. These include: significant increases in children’s joy and happiness in school; improved creativity, resilience and collaboration between children; more teaching time in class due to fewer accidents and arguments; and increased physical activity.
Play is not just messing about. It is the process evolution has come up with to enable children to learn all of the things that cannot be taught.
There are certain things children must have in order to be able to play. These include:
- clothes that they can play in all year round
- things to play with
- a certain amount of freedom
Click here if you would like to learn more about the OPAL Primary Programme.
The HTSS OPAL Team
HTSS staff are working closely with our OPAL mentor, who is leading on training, supporting our OPAL working group, and mentoring the team so as to help us make our playtimes amazing, every single day.
Our OPAL working group:
- OPAL Lead – Lorraine Goll (Headteacher)
- Curricular Lead for Play – Kate Arnison (Deputy Headteacher)
- Play Co-ordinator – Katie Bergin (Year 2 TA)
- Play Governor – Will Butler
- Parent rep – Silvia Galloti
- OPAL Mentor (Outdoor People) – Nikki Bedwin
Check out some photos of our OPAL playtimes below, as well as our weekly Headteacher’s newsletter for updates on the project.
