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OPAL - Outdoor Play & Learning
Our Primary Phase has worked incredibly hard over the last 18 months to achieve OPAL Platinum status - the highest possible recognition for outdoor play and learning! This places us within the top 1% of schools nationally for the quality, richness, and strategic development of our play provision. OPAL Platinum is exceptionally difficult to achieve. Nationally, only a very small number of schools reach this standard - around the top 1% of all OPAL schools. Achieving Platinum on our first audit is a remarkable milestone but it is not the end of our journey. It is the foundation for even more ambitious developments in outdoor play, wellbeing, and community involvement.
Mrs Amy Boyden
OPAL Lead / Year 3 Teacher
The Benefits of our OPAL Programme
- Playtimes are now magical, purposeful, and joyful, with children deeply engaged in imaginative, active, and collaborative play.
- Wellbeing has significantly improved, with children returning to class calmer, happier, and ready to learn.
- Behaviour incidents have reduced, and children settle back into learning with greater ease and focus.
- Our grounds have been transformed into vibrant, playful, inclusive spaces that invite exploration and creativity.
These benefits are not accidental. They are the result of strategic planning, community involvement, and a shared belief that play is essential to children’s development. Our Platinum award belongs to our whole school community. Families, staff, and friends of the school have given their time at weekends to help develop our grounds, digging, building, planting, and creating spaces children adore. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses and parents who have donated materials, equipment, and resources to enrich our play offer. Working alongside the Volunteer Club has also enabled us to enhance our outdoor spaces even further, ensuring they are inspiring with teepees and a willow dome. Together, we have built something truly special.
We look forward to expanding our play zones even further, continuing to involve families and local partners, embedding OPAL into every aspect of school life and ensuring every child experience amazing play, every day
Take a Look at our OPAL Journey!
