We are excited to announce the launch of OPAL, a program designed to enhance opportunities for physical activity, socialisation, cooperation, coordination, resilience, creativity, imagination, and enjoyment through improved play.

The Outdoor Play and Learning Programme (OPAL) has been developed over 17 years and tested in more than 250 schools. It is now implemented in Canada and New Zealand, as well as across the UK. In 2018, OPAL won first prize in an EU-funded award for the best active schools program in Europe.

The program is based on the principle that children not only learn through effective teaching but also through play. Since 20% of a child's time in school is spent playing - equivalent to 1.4 years of primary education - we aim to ensure that this time is as enriching as possible.

Why are we implementing the OPAL program? One significant reason is that childhood has changed, and many children no longer have their play needs met outside of school. Here are some concerning statistics:
 

• Average daily screen time: 5 hours
• Average outdoor playtime per week: 5 hours
  
• Percentage of UK children who only play outdoors with other children at school: 56%

Schools that implement the OPAL Program typically experience numerous benefits, including greater enjoyment of school, reduced teaching time lost to disputes amongst children, fewer accidents, and significantly improved behaviour.

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

As the school improves play opportunities for your children, you may find the school is asking you for resources and is making changes to how the children use the school grounds. They may use more of the grounds, for most of the year. Your children may get a bit messier, be exposed to more challenges and have greater freedom to play where, with whom and how they like. The experiences the school is fostering are essential for children’s physical and mental wellbeing and are in line with all current good practice advice on health and safety, wellbeing and development.

The school will be supported by OPAL for 18 months and there will be an opportunity to come and talk to the OPAL mentor at your child’s school. If you would like to learn more about the OPAL Primary Programme, please have a look at the OPAL website (www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk), where you will find lots of useful information and several videos about the programme.

In the coming 18 months, you will be invited to events where you can come and see for yourselves what is happening and have the opportunity to join in too.

The Opal launch has been very successful, and the children have had an amazing time exploring all the new resources, building with them, role-playing, testing their own strengths, building resilience and endurance. Have a look at what our children have been doing in their first week (June 2025) of Opal.