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Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL)

At Woodchurch CE Primary School, we are proud to be an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) school. We work hard to ensure that high-quality play opportunities are available for all children, every day. We believe that play is essential for children’s physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual development.

Did you know? Over the course of their primary school years, children spend 1.4 years of their time in playtime. This is a huge part of school life, and we want every moment to be as valuable and enriching as possible.

Why Play Matters

Play contributes directly to children’s educational development. Through different types of play – from risk-taking and adventurous activities to creative and imaginative exploration – children develop confidence, resilience and curiosity. Play allows them to:

  • Experiment and try new things

  • Push their boundaries safely

  • Develop problem-solving skills

  • Strengthen relationships and teamwork

Our School Aims for Play

Through OPAL, our play aims are to:

  • Provide children with a play environment that is enjoyable, stimulating and challenging

  • Allow children the freedom to take safe risks

  • Offer a broad range of play opportunities that support learning across the curriculum and develop understanding of the world around them

We also celebrate play in our weekly Celebration Worship, recognising children who demonstrate creativity, resilience, teamwork, and imaginative ideas during playtimes.

How Families Can Help

The success of the OPAL project depends on the ongoing support of our parents and carers. You can help by:

  • Donating “loose parts” for play, such as:

    • Hats, dressing-up clothes, handbags

    • Large pieces of fabric, old suitcases, pushchairs or buggies

    • Old mobile phones, cameras, keyboards

  • Making sure your child is ready for all-weather play by keeping a waterproof coat, fleece, and wellies in school

  • Being dirt-tolerant! Play can be messy, and we encourage children to explore and enjoy the outdoors

  • Encouraging creative play at home to build on the experiences they enjoy at school

By working together, we can ensure that play at Woodchurch CE Primary is active, creative, and a vital part of every child’s learning journey.