OPAL (Outdoor play and learning)
what is opal?
Children attend primary school for seven years. Of those seven years, around 1.4 years will be spent outside actively playing, making `playtime’ by far the most dominant element within the curriculum. Unlike sport and PE lessons, children’s active play can claim 100% engagement, provided it is delivered with the right expertise, consistency and understanding of children’s social, emotional and environmental needs.
We want our children to be happier and healthier and to get the chances to play they want and need so much. Through being an OPAL school, we also see these benefits:
- 80% drop in reported behaviour and first aid incidents
- 20% more afternoon teaching time
- Increased resilience, collaboration and inclusion
- Happier children at lunchtime.
