Outdoor Play and Learning Programme (OPAL)

Our amazing grounds!

Our vision for playtime and lunchtimes is that every child in school has an amazing hour of high-quality play every day – with no exceptions.

At St Michael and All Angels, we are committed to ensuring that playtimes and lunchtimes hold equivalent educational value to classroom learning. Current research indicates a concerning decline in children’s mental and physical health, while also demonstrating that high-quality play has a significant positive impact in promoting wellbeing. Play is widely recognised as fundamental to a child’s health, happiness, development, and overall welfare.

Children spend approximately 20% of their time in school engaged in play. Over the course of seven years in primary education, this equates to approximately 1.4 years dedicated to play.

In light of this, we undertook a review of our provision and identified opportunities to further enhance the quality of playtimes at St. Michael and All Angels Primary School. Consequently, in September 2024, we made the strategic decision to embark on our OPAL journey.

Throughout the year, pupils participate in play assemblies in which new play areas and resources are introduced, potential risks are considered, and safe, responsible management of these risks is discussed. Pupils also contribute actively to the development of our whole-school environment, supporting us in maximising the use of the natural resources available and ensuring that our play provision remains purposeful, enriching, and inclusive for all.

What is OPAL? Outdoor Play and Learning at St Michael and Angels Primary School.

Research shows that play contributes to children’s physical and emotional health, well-being, 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, school and the wider community from participating in OPAL's programme. The OPAL Primary Programme supports schools in developing a cultural shift in thinking about and supporting children’s play.

Benefits of the OPAL Primary Programme

• Increased teaching time – Children return to class happier, more settled, and better prepared for learning, resulting in fewer interruptions and smoother lesson starts.

• Improved behaviour – A significant reduction in behaviour incidents at playtimes leads to decreased reliance on behaviour policies and less staff time spent resolving conflicts.

• Accelerated development of core skills – Children strengthen key skills such as creativity, imagination, cooperation, resilience, stamina, and confidence through rich and varied play experiences.

• Enhanced inclusion – High-quality play provision ensures that every child can participate meaningfully every day, regardless of ability or need.

• Greater happiness and wellbeing – Children benefit from reduced stress and increased enjoyment, contributing to a more positive attitude towards school.

• And much more – The programme offers wide-ranging benefits that enrich the whole school community and support long-term improvement in play culture.

Phase 1 (October 2024) – we introduced a small world area and activities, plastic building bricks, dressing up clothes and a stage for role play and encouraged den making using plastic crates and equipment. We already use tyres for creative use and had music in the outdoor stage area.

Phase 2 (January 2025) – We were donated a sailing boat by Burwain Sailing club which the children love and can't wait to play with. To launch this activity we have two competitions on the go, one is for the children to think of a name for the boat and the other to come up with a design which can be painted on the boat.

Phase 3 (March 2025)- We are enhancing our outdoor area with a dinosaur area and a construction zone. Bairnfield Construction have very generously donated equipment and stone. We also have a canoe! Later this term, we plan to add a LEGO zone, and have bikes, trikes.

Phase 4 (June 2025)- We are pleased to share that our new giant sandpit has arrived. This will be a valuable addition to our outdoor provision, offering pupils enhanced opportunities for exploration, collaborative play and the development of fine and gross motor skills.

OPAL LATEST NEWS

Parental consultation and information session

Julie West, our dedicated school mentor from OPAL delivered a really valuable and informative session. The presentation provided excellent insights into the vital importance of play in children's development and learning, and helped explain why we have chosen to introduce this innovative programme at St Michael and All Angels.

The key aspects we explored together included:

• The fundamental role of play in supporting children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development

• How the OPAL programme enhances our pupils' wellbeing and learning experiences

• The research-backed benefits of outdoor play and natural learning environments

• Ways in which this approach complements and strengthens our existing curriculum

What made the evening particularly special was the opportunity for our whole school community - parents, children, and staff - to experience our school grounds together after the presentation. Seeing families exploring and playing in our outdoor spaces really brought the concepts to life and demonstrated the joy and learning that can happen through play.

Our Play Charter

Our school recognises the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly Article 31, which affirms the child’s right to play.

We believe that all children have both the right and the need to play. They should be free to choose the nature of their play—whether lively or relaxed, noisy or quiet—with opportunities to challenge themselves, take risks, and enjoy freedom.

Our Play Charter represents our commitment to fulfilling our legal and moral obligations to uphold these rights. At St. Michael and All Angels CE VA School, we have developed our OPAL Play Charter in collaboration with our pupils, listening carefully to their ideas and prioritising the aspects of play that matter most to them.

How can parents help?

Please don’t be cross if your child comes home muddy—exploring and getting messy is an important part of their play and learning!

To help your child make the most of our outdoor play areas, please ensure they have the correct equipment in school. Some areas can only be accessed with wellies and waterproof clothing. While we are developing strategies to minimise mess, we do live in Foulridge, where heavy rain is common!

Parent Play Day

We are delighted to share our OPAL journey with our families. Starting in the Spring term of 2026 and continuing each term thereafter, we will be hosting a Parent Play Day, giving parents the opportunity to play alongside their children and experience the joy and benefits of OPAL firsthand. 

It’s All About Community!

We have been extremely fortunate to receive the support of our families and local community in creating incredible spaces for our children. Our latest project has developed a variety of social spaces including a huge sandpit within the school grounds.

A next project is to create a quieter area where children can enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature. By rewilding sections of the field and allowing the grass to grow tall, we hope to attract bees, butterflies, and other insects.

In addition, it is important for children to engage their senses to enhance both their exposure to nature and their play experiences. The pathways and social spaces we will create will support this, providing a rich variety of sensory experiences and diverse opportunities for play.

Our Inclusive Environment – Creating Positive Playtimes for All

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that supports positive, purposeful playtimes for all children. The development of our "sensory gym" reflects this commitment, with every piece of equipment carefully selected to support physical development, emotional regulation, and wellbeing.

Key equipment within the "sensory gym" includes pogo jumpers, which provide valuable sensory input for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Pogo jumpers support the development of balance, coordination, grip strength, and stamina. The controlled bouncing movement is similar to using a trampoline, with the added benefit of handles that help children feel secure and confident as they move.

Research highlights the importance of the vestibular system in supporting cognitive development, emotional regulation, and behavioural stability. Activities that involve balancing, bouncing, swinging, and controlled movement naturally stimulate this system and are particularly beneficial for children with ASD and ADHD, while also supporting the needs of all children.

Alongside pogo jumpers, our sensory gym includes sensory swings, tunnels, balance beams, and skateboards. Together, these resources create a stimulating and inclusive play environment that promotes confidence, self-regulation, and enjoyment for every child.