Unleashing the Power of Play: OPAL at Radcliffe on Trent Junior School

At Radcliffe on Trent Junior School, we are committed to providing high-quality play experiences for all our children. Play is a vital part of a child’s development, supporting their physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth. Many of our fondest childhood memories come from outdoor play—climbing, exploring, and creating connections with the world around us. Through OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning), we are dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to enriching, imaginative, and engaging play opportunities.

What is OPAL?

We have recently begun an 18–24 month journey to transform our approach to play, focusing on increasing opportunities for physical activity, socialisation, creativity, and enjoyment. OPAL is a well-established programme that has been developed over 17 years and implemented in over 250 schools across the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. It was awarded first place in a European Union-funded competition for the best active schools' programme in 2018.

Research shows that children spend around 20% of their time at school in play. That equates to 1.4 years of their primary education—a significant amount of time that we want to make as meaningful as possible. OPAL is based on the principle that children learn not just through high-quality teaching but also through play, which fosters creativity, independence, and essential life skills.

Why are we introducing OPAL?

Children today experience play differently from previous generations. With increasing screen time and fewer opportunities for outdoor play, school playtimes have become even more important:

• Average daily screen time: 5 hours
• Average outdoor play time per week: 5 hours
• Percentage of UK children who only play outdoors at school: 56%

By embedding OPAL into our school culture, we aim to ensure that all children have access to high-quality play experiences that support their well-being, development, and learning. Schools that have adopted OPAL report:

✔ Increased happiness and engagement in school life
✔ Improved behaviour and fewer disputes
✔ Fewer accidents and a safer play environment
✔ Reduced teaching time lost to resolving conflicts

The Benefits of Play

1. Play is essential for learning.

Children develop a wide range of skills through play, including:

• Cognitive skills – problem-solving and critical thinking
• Physical abilities – balance, coordination, and strength
• Social skills – teamwork, communication, and cooperation
• Language development – expanding vocabulary through role-play and storytelling
• Creativity – using imagination to invent and explore

2. Play supports health and well-being.

Outdoor play encourages physical movement, helping children to stay active, improve fitness, and reduce the risk of obesity. Exposure to natural light also increases vitamin D levels, supporting bone health and immunity.

3. Play helps manage stress.

Green spaces and active play reduce stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels, leading to calmer, more focused children.

4. Play develops independence and resilience.

Through play, children learn to assess risk, make decisions, and solve problems—key life skills that support them into adulthood.

5. Play and learning go hand-in-hand.

Play is not separate from learning; it enhances it. Just like a science lesson with a practical experiment, play provides children with hands-on, real-world learning experiences.

6. Outdoor play creates lifelong memories.

Many of us remember building dens, climbing trees, and playing freely with friends. We want to ensure that every child at Radcliffe on Trent Junior School has the same opportunity to create these treasured experiences.

How Can You Help?

We are working to improve play opportunities, and as part of this, we may ask for support from our school community. You can help by:

• Ensuring your child has clothing suitable for outdoor play in all weather
• Donating materials and equipment that can be used in play
• Supporting changes in how we use our outdoor spaces

As our OPAL journey continues, you may notice that children have more freedom in their play, use different areas of the school grounds, and occasionally come home a little messier! These changes are all part of fostering richer, more meaningful play experiences that benefit children's physical and mental well-being.

Find Out More

To learn more about OPAL and see the programme in action, visit the OPAL website: www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk.

Together, we can unleash the power of play and ensure that every child at Radcliffe on Trent Junior School benefits from joyful, engaging, and purposeful play every day.