Why play matters

Play is how children learn all the things they need to know that cannot be taught in lessons. It is like a safe laboratory of life skills where they can experiment and explore. Play supports all areas of children's learning and development.

What children need

Children will need clothing that is suitable in all weather. This includes:

• A waterproof coat or rain/puddle suit
• Wellies

Frequently Asked Questions

What will be different at playtimes?

Your child will have many more opportunities to be active, as the whole school grounds will be used throughout the year. They will have many more opportunities for imaginative play as there will be many objects to play with. Your child can mix with children of all ages and choose where and how they play. Staff will receive specialist training to enrich play.

Will my child get their uniform dirty?

The purpose of a child’s school clothing is to suit the development needs of the child. Childhood inactivity and physical weakness are huge modern problems. Your child will be encouraged to use all the school grounds in all weather and to use their bodies to run, swing, crawl, climb and roll.

Will my child be at more risk?

The simple answer to this is no. OPAL schools tend to have around 80% fewer accidents than non-OPAL schools. We follow all the best and most up-to-date guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Department of Education (DoE) and RoSPA. The best way to keep children safe throughout their whole lives is to let them experience appropriate risk and challenge in a supervised and managed environment.

How can I help?

You can help by providing your children with welly boots and a waterproof coat that keeps the rain out, regularly donating ‘loose parts’ to school and enriching your child’s home play experiences.

How can I provide more play opportunities at home?

The OPAL booklet, Power of Playtime (see attachments below), has lots of inspiration for more play at home, as well as some ideas to support your child's school on its OPAL journey.