OPAL (Outdoor Play & Learning)

Platinum award

Children in British primary schools spend 20% – or 1.4 years – of their school attendance in play, yet many schools have no strategic or values-based approach to play across all ages.

The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme is a mentor-supported school improvement programme. It addresses all of the areas schools must plan for if they want to strategically and sustainably improve the quality of their play opportunities. The OPAL Primary Programme is the only programme of its kind that has been independently proven to sustainably improve the quality of play in British primary schools.

Research shows that play contributes to children’s physical and emotional health, wellbeing, 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, schools, and the wider community from participating in OPAL's programme.

We were so proud to have been awarded with our OPAL final audit award in 2025. We were beyond delighted to have been awarded with a PLATINUM award, which is the highest award possible. Only 1% of schools in the UK have been awarded this. It recognises us as one of the top 1% of schools in the UK for providing high quality play opportunities.

In achieving this award we have completely transformed our play provision which has led to happier, more resilient, better behaved, more sociable and active children. Our OPAL play provision provides so many inclusive opportunities for children to play, make friends, be outdoors, learn new skills and develop existing ones.