Welcome to the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) page
Our school recognises the value of playtime for our children. To acknowledge this we are embarking on a programme called OPAL ‘Outdoor play and learning’ and over the next 12 months will be looking to develop both our outdoor space and the play opportunities we offer. As part of the consultation process for this we will be listening to all those involved; children, teachers, parents and our Governing body.
In order to help us, we would like to find out a little bit about your own play experiences as a child and listen to any ideas you may have for improving play at our school. Therefore we will be inviting you to our Opal meeting, in school, next half term.
We are committed to ensuring quality play opportunities are available to all our children. We believe that play is essential for physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual development.
In our school play is any freely chosen activity which a child finds satisfying and creative.
It may or may not involve equipment or other people. It may be serious or light hearted. It may produce something or it may be done simply for its own sake.
It allows children an opportunity to be creative and make decisions.
In Cassop Primary School we have an OPAL group involving a school governor, the head teacher, a member of the senior leadership team and a lunch time play leader. This groups meets regularly to evaluate out OPAL action plan and ensure that further actions are taken. We have regular OPAL assemblies where children evaluate the quality of play and negotiate any issues.
Outdoor Play and learning will form a priority for 2018/19.
Article 31
That every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
