An introduction to OPAL

Here at Brookland Junior School, we are committed to ensuring quality play opportunities are available to all our children. We believe that play is essential for the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of each child. As a Rights Respecting School, we acknowledge and highly value the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child, especially Article 31, which supports the child’s right to play                                         

 What is OPAL Play?

The OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Programme is based on the idea that, as well as learning through good teaching, your children also learn when they play, and as 20% of their time in school is playtime, we want to make sure that this amount of time (equivalent to 1.4 years of primary school) is as good as possible

What are the benefits of play?

• Play is crucial for developing children’s communication and language skills, as well as supporting their learning and wellbeing.

• Provides endless opportunities for children to hear and explore the power of their voice, and practice using new and familiar sounds and words

• Stimulates cognitive development; it supports language development, enhances problem-solving skills and encourages creativity.

• Supports a variety of skills, physical, gross and fine motor, which will also support writing. Active play promotes muscle development, develops imagination, communication skills, and helps coordination and overall health.

• Enables children to practice, revisit and embed deeper learning through experimentation and repetition       

• Enables children to develop independence, perseverance and turn taking skills, supporting them to negotiate and build relationships.

• Provides a safe space for children to explore and learn to manage their feelings, helping them to build resilience and develop empathy towards others.

• Fosters a love for learning, develops imagination, and helps children grasp concepts in a fun and engaging way.