OPAL - Outdoor Play and Learning
OPAL - Outdoor Play and Learning
At St Peter’s we believe that all children and young people have the right to play and the right to learn as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Children. Playing outdoors enhances learning and is fundamental for children and young people to thrive in health, wellbeing and development. It is our responsibility to support and enable all of our pupils to access our diverse greenspaces and natural landscapes and to empower them to enjoy these spaces for the purposes of playing and learning.
To this end, we implemented the OPAL Primary Programme and have gone from strength to strength ever since. We adopt an ‘access all areas, in all weathers’ approach, where pupils have access to rich and varied environments and a wealth of play opportunities through a wide range of play equipment, small and large loose parts and much, much more.
In June 2019 we were awarded our 1st OPAL PLATINUM AWARD with our 2nd being awarded in October 2022. This year we are aiming for our 3rd Platinum award which would mean we would become an ‘OPAL Honours’ school, 1 of only 5 others in the whole country.
Our Platinum award report from 2022 follows:
Huge congratulations to the pupils, staff and parents at St Peter's Catholic primary school, Gloucester on their second OPAL platinum award! This is a significant achievement and one that the whole school community should feel very proud of. It places St Peter's in the top 0.5% of primary schools in the country in terms of the quality of their outdoor play.
St Peter's outdoor play provision has been strongly and effectively championed by Head teacher Carol Baron and OPAL Play lead Mark Dowling throughout the school's entire OPAL journey, which started back in 2017. However, it took a whole-school community effort to achieve their first platinum award in 2019, and then go from strength to strength to achieve their second award in Oct 2022, scoring a whopping 99% on the comprehensive play audit. Well done to the school's Play Team for their continued high quality play provision, even throughout the challenges and restrictions thrown up by the Covid pandemic.
Congratulations and thanks should also go to the school's PFA and the Site Manager for supporting development of the wonderful school grounds for play. It was an absolute pleasure to observe the pupils at lunchtime play - every child was engaged, with a huge range of options within a rich landscape for play. I saw children riding on scooters, digging in the sandpit, tree climbing, den building, cooking in the Mud kitchen, dressing up, dancing to music, exploring nature, trying musical instruments, and climbing to the very top of their tall climbing frame! I could go on! There were opportunities both to relax and to seek adventure and challenge.
Play is clearly prioritised and the school actively values and champions children's right to play, as outlined in the UNCRC Article 31. Well done to all!
OPAL Stay and Play
The children have been enjoying playing in all the different OPAL zones. They have been making campfires in the forest school area, rolling down the bank inside a water butt, playing with the Barbie dolls in the quiet area, dancing and playing musical instruments in the music zone, building sandcastles in the sand pit and making bases and obstacle courses with crates, tyres and pallets. They are LOVING OPAL.
As a result of this, we'd love you to experience OPAL too, so during term 4 we will be offering 'Stay and Play' where parents/carers are invited to experience OPAL with your children from 3.15pm - 4pm every Friday. So keep an eye out for more information nearer the time.
When the time comes, please note the following information:
This will be unsupervised play - all we will ask is that you follow these simple rules:
1. Sign the sheet in the main office to say you are staying (this is so we know who is on site) and sign it again when you are leaving (so we know you have left!).
2. Treat the resources and the zones with respect.
3. Tidy away the resources when you and your children have finished with them.
4. The POND by the forest school zone is strictly out of bounds.
5. Bring your own drinks, snacks and first aid supplies - the school does not accept any liability for any accidents that occur - you 'Stay and Play' at your own risk.
6. Take all your litter home with you.
7. Have an amazing OPAL experience!
Thank you for your continued support Mrs Whitehead (OPAL Play Coordinator) and Mr Dowling (OPAL Leader).
Essentials:
It is essential that all children are kitted out with waterproof coats and wellingtons (clearly named) to stay in school every day so that the children can access all areas in all weather and get the most out of their OPAL experience.
Recommended:
As many of the zones are muddy there is a strong possibility of clothing getting wet and dirty. Waterproof trousers and/or a change of clothes are highly recommended to protect their school clothes.