Outdoor Play and Learning Programme (OPAL)

At St Michael and All Angels “Every child, every day: inclusive, exceptional play for all.”

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. Barnfield 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.

Phase 5: (April 2026) - Introduction of Outdoor Seating Areas This phase saw the installation of nine picnic benches to create designated quiet zones, outdoor craft spaces, and additional areas for pupils to eat outside. This development supported improved use of outdoor space across the school day, promoting wellbeing, social interaction, and increased opportunities for outdoor learning and calm reflection.

Phase 6: (April 2026) - Development of Polytunnel and Planting Areas his phase focused on the commencement of structured use of the polytunnel for planting, alongside the development of a wider outdoor planting plan. It also included the creation of enhanced quiet areas surrounded by vegetation, as well as improvements to the outdoor prayer space through the planting of a sustainable hedge. This work strengthened pupils’ connection with nature, supported mental wellbeing, and provided purposeful opportunities for learning about sustainability and growth.

Phase 7: (April 2026) - Introduction of Small Climbing Wall This phase introduced a small climbing wall to further enhance physical activity provision within the outdoor environment. This addition supported the development of gross motor skills, resilience, confidence, and risk-taking in a safe and structured way, contributing to a more active and engaging playtime experience for all pupils.

OPAL LATEST NEWS

OPAL Community Day 25th April 2026

Our OPAL Community Tidy-Up Day, held on Saturday 25th April 2026, was a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together to enhance and develop our outdoor learning spaces through teamwork, creativity and shared commitment—more information below.

Parent Play Day Thursday 2nd July 2026

🌿 Our next Parent Play Date will take place in the second half of the summer term on the afternoon of Thursday 2nd July. 🌞 We can’t wait for you to join us! We will be creating our small world areas using tyres, so come along and get involved in some hands-on, imaginative outdoor play and development. 🚜🌱

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.

St Michael and All Angels Play Charter: Co-Produced with All Stakeholders 🤝🌿

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.

St Michael Play Detectives 🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♂️
Inclusive voices, shared discoveries, better play for all

The Play Detectives are responsible pupils who play an important role in helping to make lunchtimes fun, safe, and exciting for everyone. Working as part of our OPAL approach, they support play across the playground by encouraging inclusion, creativity, and positive behaviour. Their responsibilities include supporting OPAL play at lunchtime, helping to manage and care for equipment and loose parts, encouraging others to join in, and taking on a range of leadership roles across the school day.

Play Detectives help in many ways, including supporting lunchtime play by bringing out resources such as music, water, and loose parts, assisting with the play shed, and helping to organise and return equipment after play. They also act as OPAL representatives by sharing messages in assemblies, modelling positive play, and encouraging all-weather outdoor learning. In addition, they support communication by helping with announcements, creating posters and signs, taking photographs, and contributing to short articles or videos about play.

Their roles also include being weather watchers, checking daily conditions to help decide which resources can be used safely, and loose parts champions, ensuring equipment is sorted, stored, recycled, or reported when damaged. They also act as safety helpers by supporting checks of new resources and helping to identify any potential risks, always working alongside adults to maintain safe play.

The Play Detectives play a vital role in making our playground more fun, more creative, more inclusive, and safer for everyone. They help to ensure that play is valued across the school and that every child is supported to take part.

✨ Play is everyone’s right — and our Play Detectives help make it happen! ✨

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 Days

We were delighted to share our OPAL journey with our families. A Parent Play Day took place on 13th February 2026, providing parents with the opportunity to play alongside their children and experience the joy and benefits of OPAL firsthand. The event was very well attended and was a great success, with families engaging positively in outdoor play and enjoying the experience together.

We are now planning a further Parent Play Day for the second half of the Summer Term 2026, to continue strengthening family engagement and further develop the school community’s involvement in OPAL.

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 projects have 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.

School Community OPAL Tidy-Up Day – Saturday 25th April 2026

What a truly humbling and inspiring day it was at school on our OPAL Tidy-Up Day. It was wonderful to see so many parents, carers, friends of the school and wider community come together to support the development of our outdoor learning spaces, working collaboratively in the garden, painting, and helping to enhance areas around the polytunnel. The sense of care, teamwork and community spirit was outstanding, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who gave up their time to help improve our school environment for the children. A special thank you must go to Rachel Finlay for her outstanding organisation, dedication and commitment in bringing the event together so successfully—your hard work is very much appreciated. This day was a fantastic example of what can be achieved when a school community comes together with a shared vision for our children.

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.

⚖️ OPAL Risk–Benefit Approach: Safe, Shared and Empowered Play

Within OPAL, all equipment is introduced through a careful risk–benefit assessment process to ensure both safety and rich play opportunities. The OPAL play team initially assess each piece of equipment, considering potential risks alongside the developmental, social and physical benefits it offers. This is then followed by a whole-school assembly where the equipment is shared with the children, and together we explore how it can be used safely and creatively. Pupils are actively involved in identifying risks, discussing benefits and agreeing clear expectations for use. These shared agreements are then implemented consistently, ensuring that children feel empowered, responsible and safe while engaging in high-quality, adventurous play..

📸 The Play Team in Action

The Play Team at work, carrying out risk–benefit assessments to ensure safe, high-quality play opportunities for all children. The team is led by Gemma Armitage and meets every two weeks to discuss any issues, celebrate successes, and plan the implementation of new and seasonal enhancements across the OPAL provision.

OPAL at St Michael’s: Embedding Sustainability in Outdoor Play

OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) supports sustainability by encouraging children to engage with natural, recycled and reusable materials while developing a strong respect for the environment. In our setting, this is embedded through practical actions such as harvesting rainwater from the polytunnel roof, reusing soil through our composting systems, and creating diverse natural play landscapes including mounds, dips and wildflower meadows. Our OPAL-based planting scheme further strengthens this by developing a range of purposeful environments: a wild and exploratory zone rich in native hedgerows, long grass and climbable trees to promote biodiversity and imaginative play; an edible and sensory garden where children grow, taste and care for produce; a woodland edge filled with loose natural materials for den building and creative construction; and a calm reflection garden to support wellbeing and mindfulness. These spaces are carefully designed to provide year-round seasonal interest, encourage biodiversity through habitats such as log piles, bug hotels and pollinator planting, and promote hands-on environmental learning. By involving pupils in planting, composting and maintaining these areas, OPAL not only reduces waste and enhances sustainability but also fosters responsibility, curiosity and a lifelong understanding of how to care for the natural world.

🌍 Climate Action Planning Event – Supporting Our OPAL Journey

This is a quick update to share an exciting Climate Action Planning event taking place on 8th June at Manchester Metropolitan University, delivered in partnership with Climate Ambassadors, Nature Park, Let’s Go Zero and other organisations. The event will focus on supporting schools to develop and strengthen their climate action plans, with opportunities to collaborate, share best practice and explore practical, sustainable approaches within education settings. This links closely with our OPAL journey at St Michael’s, as we continue to develop sustainable, nature-rich outdoor environments that promote biodiversity, resourcefulness and environmental responsibility. Sara Richardson and Rachel Finlay will be attending to represent our school and further enhance our work in embedding sustainability through play and learning.