We are an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) school and work hard to ensure that quality play opportunities are available for all children.  We believe that play is essential for physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual development.

Children spend 1.4 years of their primary school attendance in playtime. This time is valuable and needs careful planning.

Different Play Types

The contribution of play to educational development is suggested through the inherent value of different play types e.g. through risk taking and exploratory play in formal and informal settings, allowing children to experiment, try new things and push their boundaries.

Our school aims are:

• to provide children with a play setting which is enjoyable, stimulating and challenging;
• to allow children to take risks;
• to provide children with a range of play opportunities which will support children’s learning across the curriculum and about the world around them.
•  

Not only do we aim to provide more valuable play experiences but we also celebrate play for those who have shown good teamwork, resilience, creativity and creative ideas in our weekly Celebration Worship. 

The success of the OPAL project also depends on the support or parents and carers. We have an ongoing need for new loose parts including:

• Hats, dressing-up clothes, hand bags 
• Large pieces of fabric, old suitcases, old pushchairs and buggies
• Old mobile phones, cameras, keyboards 

In addition you can help by-       

• Making sure your child has a waterproof coat and fleece and a pair of wellies to keep in school
• Being dirt tolerant!
• Encouraging creative play at home too