Ourdoor Play and Learning (OPAL)

What is OPAL?

At Blakesley Hall Primary School, we are proud to be developing our outdoor spaces through OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning), an award-winning, nationally recognised, research-driven school improvement programme.

OPAL helps schools transform playtimes so that children experience richer, more active, imaginative and meaningful play every day.

We believe that play is an essential part of children’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. Through OPAL, we are creating exciting and inclusive opportunities where every child can find something they enjoy and everyone has the opportunity to play, explore, create and belong.

Why OPAL?

Childhood has changed. Many children now have fewer opportunities to play freely outdoors and spend more time using screens. At Blakesley Hall, we want to ensure that our children have regular opportunities to experience high-quality outdoor play as an important part of their school day.

For us, play is not simply a break from learning. Play is learning.

High-quality play can help children to:

• Enjoy happier, more fulfilling playtimes.
• Develop creativity and imagination.
• Build resilience, independence and confidence.
• Strengthen friendships, teamwork and cooperation.
• Support their physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Develop important social and cognitive skills.
• Feel included and valued.
• Return to the classroom ready to learn.

Through OPAL, we are creating a long-term cultural change in the way play is understood, supported and valued across our school.

What Does OPAL Play Look Like at Blakesley Hall

Our playground is becoming an increasingly vibrant, creative and exciting place for our children.

Through OPAL, children can experience a wide variety of play opportunities, including:

• Loose-parts play using resources such as tyres, crates, ropes and pipes.
• Den building and construction.
• Active games, sports and free play.
• Role play and imaginative play.
• Creative activities.
• Nature-based play and exploration.
• Sand and mud play.
• Building and creating with reclaimed and recycled materials.
• All-weather outdoor play.

Different areas and resources give children greater freedom to choose how they play, who they play with and how they use their imagination.

Our staff support children as playworkers, encouraging them to become more independent, creative, confident and responsible in their play.

Our aim is simple: every child should be able to find something they enjoy and feel that our playground is a place where they can belong, explore, learn and thrive.

Safety and Inclusion

At Blakesley Hall, safety and inclusion are at the heart of our OPAL approach.

Our OPAL provision is carefully risk-assessed and supported by trained staff. Rather than removing every element of challenge from play, we teach children how to recognise, understand and manage risks responsibly.

This gives children opportunities to develop confidence, resilience, independence and important life skills, while enjoying greater freedom within clear and safe boundaries.

OPAL play is also inclusive by design. We want every child, regardless of their age, ability, individual needs or background, to have meaningful opportunities to take part and experience the benefits of high-quality play.

By providing a wide variety of spaces, activities and resources, we aim to create a playground where every child feels safe, included, valued and confident to explore, play and be themselves.

Also see: OPAL Risk-Benefit Advice and Record Sheet

The Right to Play

Our OPAL approach supports Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which recognises a child's right to rest, leisure and play, as well as opportunities to participate in cultural and artistic life.

At Blakesley Hall, we believe play is an important part of a happy and healthy childhood. It provides opportunities for children to:

• Express themselves.
• Develop friendships and positive relationships.
• Build confidence and independence.
• Explore their creativity and imagination.
• Be physically active.
• Experience challenge and adventure.
• Have fun and enjoy being a child.

We are committed to ensuring that all children have access to meaningful, enjoyable and inclusive play opportunities during their time at school.

Meet Our OPAL Team

Our OPAL journey is supported by a dedicated team of staff and pupils who work together to continually develop play at Blakesley Hall.

From developing our whole-school approach and creating new play opportunities to organising resources and listening to children's ideas, everyone has an important part to play.

Curricular Leads

Mr M Wareham and Mrs A Smith
Leads the development of OPAL across the school, helping to ensure that high-quality play remains an important part of life at Blakesley Hall.

OPAL Play Coordinator

Mrs S Smith
Help lead and develop exciting, creative and inclusive play opportunities across our outdoor environment, supporting children to get the very best from their playtimes.

OPAL Playworkers

Help organise, maintain and develop our OPAL spaces, equipment and loose-parts resources so that children have access to a varied and engaging play environment.

Together, our OPAL Team is helping to create a playground where every child can play, explore, imagine, belong and thrive.

Parents and Carers: Be Part of Our OPAL Journey

Our families are an important part of our OPAL journey.

We love welcoming parents and carers into school to experience OPAL first-hand and see the creativity, curiosity and enjoyment that high-quality play brings to our children.

Through our OPAL Stay and Play sessions, families have the opportunity to join children on the playground, explore our different play opportunities and see how our outdoor spaces are transforming children's experiences at school.

We have received fantastic feedback from families who have joined us and look forward to welcoming even more parents and carers to future sessions.

These opportunities are not only great fun, but also help to strengthen our school community and give families a window into the creativity, independence, imagination and joy that can be seen throughout our playground.

Our OPAL Journey Continues...

OPAL is about much more than adding new equipment to our playground. It is about developing a whole-school culture that recognises, celebrates and protects the value of play.

As our OPAL journey continues, we will keep developing our spaces, resources and opportunities so that our children can experience the very best playtimes possible.

Happy children. Active children. Creative children. A playground where everyone belongs.