Play is the process through which children learn everything that they need to know that cannot be taught. Play wires the brain, builds capable bodies, and is the foundation of building relationships.

OPAL's programme enables schools to provide every child with rich opportunities to be creative, collaborative and active in their outdoor play, in environments that are safe enough for 'health and safety' but challenging enough for children's ongoing development.

Introduction

OPAL stands for Outdoor Play and Learning and is a programme endorsed and supported by Sport England.

OPAL's mission statement is "To ensure that every schoolchild has an amazing playtime every day with no exceptions."

This programme is a journey that we're undertaking over the next 12-18 months with OPAL, developing the playground and play of the children.

We aim to:

• improve well-being
• develop self-regulation
• increase physical activity
• aid social and emotional development
• learn to manage risk
• be more resilient 
• have FUN!

For more information:

https://outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk

To keep up to date with our progress with our OPAL project, look at the OPAL section on our fortnightly newsletter or go to one of the school's social media pages.

https://www.instagram.com/preshuteprimaryschool/

https://www.facebook.com/61573135117833/posts/122169906518771170/

Wish List

To facilitate this project, we will need to buy some new resources, move some things around on the playground and require some loose parts. Loose parts are any materials that can be easily moved, combined, and incorporated into children's free play. The items we are looking for will enable us to enjoy a wider range of play experiences during playtime (see below for some examples):

• Suitcases of any size and type
• Anything on wheels/castors
• Plastic milk crates/supermarket delivery crates/plastic bread trays
• Briefcases, especially hard cased ones
• Road signs and cones
• Kitchen pots, pans, baking trays, work tables, wooden spoons, chopping boards
• Tools like small spades/shovels, trowels and brooms
• Tubes of various sizes and various materials
• Buckets
• Nets and thick ropes
• Keyboards/torches/laptops/calculators/mobile phones/desk phones/webcams/cameras that are no longer working
• Fabric (large sheets/brightly coloured fabric)
• Foam sheets/bodyboards/camping roll mats/yoga mats
• Wooden pallets
• Metal frames
• Cable drums
• Guttering
• Noodles (the type you use in the swimming pool!)
• Hats/scarves/jazzy shirts/elasticated skirts/waistcoats/wedding dresses/character costumes
• Pegs (to help to set up dens)