Here at Harrow Lodge Primary School, we are committed to ensuring 
quality play opportunities are available to all our children. We have recently embarked on an exciting journey with the OPAL programme.
Children spend 20% of their time in school playing and we believe that play is essential for physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual development of each child. There are many benefits to the OPAL programme including:
- Improving playtimes for all children meaning happier children and children who come into the classroom ready to learn
- Improving our play spaces across the school making the most of our wonderful spaces and ensuring a fully inclusive play offer
- Develops our school values encouraging children to be creative, resilient, independent and collaborative whilst respecting those around them
- Improving behaviour at playtimes
- It’s fun!
OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) is all about using naturally and man-made resources to allow children to be inspired and creative at playtime.
Our children have access to a wide range of materials, which they can use in their play. These include tyres, crates, wood, fabric, mud, wheeled toys and much more. Through regular play assemblies, they are taught about dynamic risk assessments and playing co-operatively with others.
We have OPAL leaders who are children from Year 5 who assist teh children at lunchtimes. This is a very important job which includes monitoring the play that is happening, supporting children in their play, reminding children of our OPAL play charter and genereally ensuring that all children are having fun!
We follow advice from the Health and Safety Executive, who support active play in schools.
“HSE fully recognises that play brings the world to life for children. It provides for an exploration and understanding of their abilities; helps them to learn and develop; and exposes them to the realities of the world in which they will live, which is a world not free from risk but rather one where risk is ever present. The opportunity for play develops a child’s risk awareness and prepares them for their future lives. (From the Health and Safety Executive’s Children’s play and leisure – promoting a balanced approach.)”
You can read our play policy here: Opal Play Policy
This year we have introduced our Golden Welly award which is awarded each week to two children, one from key stage 1 and one fro key stage 2. These
children are chosen by the play workers for their contribution to great OPAL play each week. This could include great collaborative play, super tidying up, good use of imagination, supporting the younger children to name but a few. This is a very coveted award and is awarded to the children during our celebration assembly each week.
“OPAL play makes the children’s breaks so much more fulfilling and is beneficial to build relationships and explore imagination.”
“It was lovely to spend the time with him learning his favourite places. I didn’t realise how much they had to play with!”
“It was wonderful to see teh kids in this environment. The space they have available to them is vast and it is great to see so many different types of play. This will really encourage children to explore their interests and also try things they haven’t before.”
“How lucky are they to have a party every lunchtime!”
“My child has spoken fondly about OPAL since it started and the chalk, sand and mud on his shirt says it all!”
“I love that they have music playing every lunchtime.”
“Lots of very happy children with lots to do.”
“There’s a great choice of activities, every child has something to do and was engaged in play. Good to see teh children using their imaginations and glued to technology.”