Opal Play
OPAL Play the Oughty Way!
We are proud to be an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Platinum Award school! This means we provide outstanding play opportunities that support our children’s wellbeing, creativity and development every day.
At our school, play is a valued and essential part of the school day. Children enjoy a wide range of exciting activities during playtimes with dedicated areas including a huge sand pit, mud kitchen, castle, stage, tyre swings, tree climbing, den building, a Ninja Warrior course, small world zones, loose parts, water play and much more. There's something for everyone to explore, imagine and enjoy!
What is OPAL Play?
The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme is the result of over 20 years of testing and development in over 2000 schools and has been used in Spain, Canada, France and New Zealand. The programme has also been adapted and used in schools in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Austria under the Play Friendly Schools project. In 2018, OPAL won first prize in an EU-funded award for the best active school’s programme in Europe and two UK national playwork awards. In 2019, OPAL was awarded a quarter of a million pounds by Sport England to bring the programme to many more schools.
Why is OPAL Play so important for our children?
OPAL is based on the idea that, as well as learning through good teaching, your children also learn when they play. As 20% of their time in school is playtime, we want to make sure that this amount of time (equivalent to 1.4 years of primary school) is as good as possible. One reason Oughtrington PS is carrying out this programme is that childhood has changed, and many children no longer get their play needs met out of school.
Average screen time per day is six hours.
Average outdoor play time per week is five hours.
Percentage of UK children who only play outdoors with other children at school is 56%.
There are many proven benefits for schools that carry out the OPAL Primary Programme. They usually include: more enjoyment of school, less teaching time lost to disputes between children, fewer accidents and greatly improved behaviour. Play is not messing about. It is the process evolution has come up with to enable children to learn all of the things that cannot be taught, while also having so much fun.
How can YOU help US deliver the best play for your child?
Ensure they are dressed for our glorious British weather! This includes a waterproof coat (we go out in all weathers!) and wellies or a change of outdoor shoes. There are welly shelves for every year group and the tidiest shelves win Oughty's Welly Award each week in Praise Assembly! Waterproof trousers or a puddle suit are also recommended for the wetter muddier months.
To recap....the numerous benefits of outdoor play"
Physical Health & Motor Skills: Running, climbing, and exploring develop muscle strength, stability, and gross motor skills, reducing the risk of sedentary lifestyles.
Mental & Emotional Well-being: Exposure to natural light increases vitamin D, boosts self-esteem, lowers anxiety, and helps regulate stress.
Cognitive & Educational Growth: Outdoor environments stimulate imagination, curiosity, and problem-solving skills. It boosts concentration and offers rich, hands-on learning experiences not available indoors.
Social & Emotional Skills: Children learn to socialize, make friends, and develop independence.
Risk Management & Confidence: Risky play (climbing, balancing) allows children to test boundaries, learn about safety, and build resilience.
Improved Sleep: Regular outdoor activity improves sleep patterns by expending energy and regulating the body's circadian rhythm.
