OPAL

What is OPAL? 

The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme is the result of over 20 years of testing and development in over 800 schools and has been used in Spain, Canada, France and New Zealand. 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. 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. Research has clearly found that active children do better in every possible way. They perform better in school and physical activity can increase attendance rates and levels of concentration. Active children have improved chances for better physical, financial, emotional and social outcomes in the future.

Why Glory Farm Primary School?

One reason Glory Farm Primary School is carrying out this programme is that childhood has changed, and many children no longer get their play needs met out of school.
● The average screen time per day is six hours.
● The average outdoor play time per week is five hours.
● The 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. There are certain things children must have in order to be able to play:
● having clothes that they can play in;
● having things to play with;
● having a certain amount of freedom.

We have already achieved some local recognition for our succesful launch of the programme. Read more HERE.  

 
Want to know more?

If you would like to learn more about the OPAL Primary Programme, please have a look at the OPAL website (www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk), where you will find lots of useful information and several videos about the programme. You can also read our OPAL Policy and the Parents' Play Pack by clicking on the links below:

Glory Farm OPAL Policy

Parents' Play Pack

You can also scan this QR code to find out more about the OPAL programme.