What is 'OPAL'?

'OPAL' stands for Outdoor Play and Learning, and is a school improvement programme that helps schools develop the quality of play at lunchtimes and playtimes so that children are more active, creative, social and engaged.   But it goes way beyond a plan on a page or some extra equipment on the playground, it is about making the most of opportunities for children to be  active, creative, adventurous and connected.  We are becoming an OPAL school because we believe in helping children to develop the confidence, resilience and friendships that support success in school and beyond.

Why have we chosen OPAL for our school?

We are genuinely excited about the opportunities that being an OPAL school will give our children.

Children spend around 20% of their time at primary school playing, which is the equivalent of approximately 1.4 years of school life. It's incredible to think that this is as much time as the children spend learning key skills like English and Maths, but that too often this time goes unplanned with its value unappreciated. We want play times to be every bit as positive, rich and worthwhile as the time children spend in the classroom.

We are incredibly fortunate at English Martyrs to have such fantastic school grounds. We have a large field, wooded areas and lots of different spaces, and there is so much more we can do with them. OPAL is helping us think differently about how children can use the whole site throughout the year.

We want our playtimes to offer something for everyone. This includes opportunities to:

• run, climb and be active;
• build, create and use imagination;
• explore nature;
• play with children from other year groups;
• make friends and include others;
• solve problems and work together;
• take manageable risks and grow in confidence; and
• choose quieter play when that is what a child needs.

Play is where children practise so many of the skills that are difficult to teach directly. They learn to cooperate, negotiate, make decisions, manage disagreements and change their plans when something does not work. OPAL describes play as the place where children learn many of the things that need to be learned but cannot simply be taught.  

Better playtimes also support learning. Children have the chance to move, reset and return to class ready to concentrate. The creativity, cooperation and problem-solving developed through play also help children when they are learning with others in the classroom.

How are we introducing OPAL?

Introducing OPAL is much more than buying new play equipment. Over the next 18-24 months, we will be working alongside a specialist OPAL mentor to transform playtimes through a carefully planned programme of development. We are starting with simple 'quick wins' before gradually introducing more exciting and creative opportunities as we strengthen our approach to risk-benefit management. Along the way, we will be reviewing our grounds, resources and systems to create a play environment that enables all children to flourish.