Mount Church Of England Primary School
Outdoor Play (OPAL)
The award-winning OPAL Primary Programme helps schools to improve children’s play experiences.
At Mount, we believe in the ‘power of play’ and recognise that having quality time and provision to play is essential for positive mental and physical health, exploring learning in new ways and for the development of healthy relationships.
The programme is helping us to plan for and invest in play in the same way as other areas of our curriculum! And the results are already being seen in schools across the world – children in OPAL schools concentrate better in class, are healthier and happier and so are the staff!
How you can support OPAL
OPAL is all weather play. Please ensure children are dressed appropriately for the season. Wellies, waterproof coats and a change of shoes are essential for them to access the full play offer no matter what the weather!
We want your junk!
Our OPAL Play Team are looking for a few items if you have them;
Dropping off you items
You can drop off donations at any time during the school day.
As always we appreciate your support!
The OPAL Play Team
OPAL Mentor: Wendy Syalon
Headteacher: Christine Turner
Curriculum Lead: Sam Thompson
Play Co-ordinator: Natasha Spratt
Governor Rep: Kelly Farmer
Parent Rep: TBC
Play Team: Shirrell Wright, Zoe Robson
Risk Management
We follow the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Guidance for taking a balanced approach to all of the risks associated with free play.
OPAL approaches to play seek to weigh-up the potential benefits to a play activity against the risks that it may pose. We teach children about risk and view healthy risk-taking to be an important life-skill that we need to develop in all of our children. We know that none of our Play Team can watch every child at every minute during play. We take a ‘Dynamic Supervision’ approach instead.
Please see the attached document for further information and for a copy of the HSE guide.