OPAL
Welcome to the OPAL school section of our website.
As a school, we are dedicated to ensuring all children have access to quality play. We have spent a considerable amount of time recently developing our school grounds and Forest School to enable quality play opportunities. This year we are extending that further with the support of OPAL schools.
Please help us achieve the aim that every child has quality play from the full range of play types during the 20% dedicated school day allocated to it.
Time outdoors playing, learning and exploring has a critical, positive impact on children’s lives. Multiple studies in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, India, China and Singapore show time outdoors leads to:
- Increased Happiness
- Improved mental health and wellbeing
- Increased physical activity
- Increased attainment
- Increased attendance
- Less time off sick (both pupils and staff)
- Improved behaviour
- Improved emotional self-regulation
- Increased connection to nature
- Increased social connection and a sense of belonging
What have we implemented so far?
We began our OPAL journey in September of 2025 and since then we have introduced a number of interesting and exciting new things including,
- Free-flow dinners
- Toy cars and toy areas
- Loose parts play
- Specific ball games zones
- A quiet area for crafting and creating
- Dress up boxes for children's imaginative play
- A broken toy hospital (Encourgaing independence in children with fixing and reporting broken toys and equipment)
- A Top table for children showing exemplary table manners
- The "Golden Welly" award for the best play every week.
Key Documents
OPAL Health & Safety Guidance Documentation
Meet the Team
Our Play Team are an essential part of OPAL play. They take part in regular Playwork Essentials training and support our children to engage in positive play and to manage risks safely.
Mr Copeman - Play Leader
Mrs Goude - Play Leader
Mr Allen - Play Leader
Mrs Holt - Lead MSA and Play Team, Governor Play Champion
OPAL Golden Welly Winners
The Opal 'Golden Welly' is awarded every week to the child/children/class or adult that has shown wonderful play skills and been a super member of our play community.
Click on the link to the left to see this term's winners...