OPAL Play

OPAL is the UK’s leading not-for-profit school improvement organisation focused on supporting the development of high-quality playtimes.

Play is how children learn all the things they need to know that cannot be taught in lessons. It is like a safe laboratory of life skills where they can experiment and explore. Play supports all areas of children's learning and development.

Introducing OPAL has meant that children at Woodford Halse CE Primary School have many more opportunities to be active, as the whole school grounds will be used throughout the year. They have many more opportunities for imaginative play with many objects to play with. Children can mix with children of all ages and choose where and how they play. Our staff have received specialist training to enrich play.

OPAL encourages the following areas of development:

1. Academic. Play supports real-world learning in all academic areas, including maths, literacy, and language development.
2. Physical. Research shows play to be the best and most popular way for children to be active. All areas of health are improved when children have plenty of outdoor playful movement.
3. Social. Play is the way children learn and practise relationships. Learning how to work with and get on with others is essential for a happy and successful life.
4. Mental. Research proves children rate good play as one of the most important things they need to be happy in life. More than half of children now only play outside with other children at school.
5. Emotional. Play provides the best opportunities for children to learn about the full range of human emotions, understand themselves, and develop strategies for managing their feelings.