OPAL
Woodmansterne believes that all children need opportunities to play that allow them to explore, manipulate, experience and affect their environment. We believe play provision should be welcoming and accessible to every child, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, economic or social circumstances, ethnic or cultural background or origin, or individual abilities.
The OPAL Primary Programme rationale is that “… better, more active and creative playtimes can mean happier and healthier children, and having happier, healthier, more active children usually results in a more positive attitude to learning in school, with more effective classroom lessons, less staff time spent resolving unnecessary behavioural problems, fewer playtime accidents, happier staff and a healthier attitude to life.”
Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) is a community interest company (CIC) dedicated to providing services to schools and organisations in England and Wales to improve the quality of
play opportunities for all children. Woodmansterne has been working with OPAL to transform our playtimes (both break and lunch), improving the environment and culture of play. Children now have and experience a wide variety of activities which caters for a wide variety of interests.
At Woodmansterne children can access the Whole site at break and lunch through different ‘zones’. Each zone is monitored by a member of school staff, different zones include: dressing up, tree climbing, reading, constructing, mud kitchen, sandpit, den building, bikes and scooters, music, kites, playground games, football, basketball and so much more.
It is essential pupils come to school ready for daily OPAL play. Children need a coat (as we go out in the rain!) and welly boots in the winter or if they like the mud kitchen!
The school needs donations, lots of donations! We use what we call ‘loose parts’ during OPAL. You can donate items to the OPAL donation station at the front of school. See the donations poster for ideas.
Below you can see some of the wonderful play we have at Woodmansterne as part of OPAL!
