OPAL Play stands for Outdoor Play and Learning, a mentor-supported school improvement programme designed to transform playtime in primary schools. 

Created to address the fact that play makes up about 20% (or 1.4 years) of a child's primary school life, the programme helps schools build a strategic, long-term approach to outdoor play. 

Core Goals

• Child-Led Play: Children choose how, where, and what they play with, fostering independence and creativity. 

• All-Weather Access: Students are encouraged to play outside year-round, often wearing wellies and waterproofs to use fields, mud kitchens, and loose-parts play areas. 

• Risk Management: Instead of wrapping children in cotton wool, the programme teaches kids how to safely assess and manage risk. 

• Better Behaviour: Schools running the programme report dramatic drops in playground behaviour issues, fewer lunchtime disputes, and calmer students returning to afternoon lessons. 

​​​​​​At Barwic Parade Community Primary School, we are thrilled to announce we have GOLD Standard Quality Mark from OPAL