The Outdoor Play And Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme

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Supporting school improvement through better play and playtimes - We want to make lunchtime fun for everyone!

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What is OPAL?

 

Children in British primary schools spend 20% – or 1.4 years – of their school attendance in play, yet many schools have no strategic or values-based approach to play across all ages.

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The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme is a mentor-supported school improvement programme. It addresses all of the areas schools must plan for if they want to strategically and sustainably improve the quality of their play opportunities.

 

Research shows that play contributes to children’s physical and emotional health, wellbeing, approach to learning and enjoyment of school. Given the importance of play in children’s lives and current concerns about children’s health and opportunity to access time and space to initiate their own play outdoors, there are considerable benefits for children, parents, schools, and the wider community from participating in OPAL's programme.

 

What are the benefits of OPAL?

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More teaching time

Most schools report 10 minutes more teaching time per teacher with happier, more

creative, and well exercised children who settle to classes much more quickly.

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Improved behaviour

OPAL schools report an 80% reduction in the use of behaviour policies and a 90%

reduction in senior leadership time being spent resolving playtime issues.

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Faster core skills development

Children at OPAL schools rapidly develop creativity, imagination, cooperation,

resilience, stamina and confidence.

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Inclusion

OPAL's approach makes play better for every child, every day... no exceptions!

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Happiness and wellbeing

Play is a human need and a human right. Children and staff at OPAL schools report

feeling less stressed, happier, and more excited about school.

 

What has the impact been at Parsons Down?

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We began our OPAL journey in April 2024 and hope to be accredited in January 2026. I chose OPAL because outdoor learning is an important part of our curriculum, especially in the early years. We are lucky to have a large site with extensive grounds perfect for imaginative and really active play but I felt it was being underutilised. I was also concerned about the health and wellbeing of children, the quality of their play and that their lunchtime experience wasn’t as good as it could be.

 

Introducing OPAL has had so many benefits. I regularly meet with the School Council to discuss playtimes and how they could be improved. Play Detectives take weekly photos of children enjoying play and pupil feedback is really positive. These are the things children enjoy playing at lunchtime:

 

• Den Building

• Adventure Playground

• Playing with ice

• Football

• Playing with younger children

• Playing with snow

• Sledging

• Meadow Making Snowmen

• Snowball fights Basketball

• Netball

• SEAL Club

• Playing with friends

• MUGA

• Sensory Garden

• Outdoor Classroom

• Ping Pong

• Running​​​​​