OPAL (Outdoor Play & Learning)

Lead: Mr E. Worth 

“Play is not a break from learning — it’s how children learn best. Through play, every child can explore, create, and grow.” - OPAL

Background to OPAL

Did you know that playtime makes up around 20% of a child’s school day? That’s over 1.4 years of play during their time in primary school? For many children, it’s also their only regular opportunity to play outdoors. At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, we are proud to be part of the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Primary Programme, a national initiative supported by Sport England and implemented in hundreds of schools across the UK and beyond. Through OPAL, we are transforming our playtimes into rich, active, and imaginative experiences where every child can explore, create, and thrive.

Find out more about OPAL watch the video “Amazing OPAL Primary Playtime” to see the impact of OPAL in action.

Vision

We believe that play is a fundamental right and an essential part of every child’s development, as recognised in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Through OPAL, our children have the freedom to explore, create, imagine, and challenge themselves in a safe and supportive environment.

Our outdoor playtimes are designed to promote creativity, cooperation, resilience, and independence, helping children to develop vital life skills while having fun. We aim to provide inclusive play opportunities that are accessible to all, regardless of ability, background, or experience — ensuring every child feels a sense of belonging and joy in their play.

Our play spaces offer a wide range of materials and environments that encourage imaginative and active play — from loose parts and den building to digging, climbing, and role play. Children are supported to take manageable risks, build confidence, and develop problem-solving skills as they learn to navigate challenges and celebrate success.

We understand that better, more active, and creative playtimes lead to happier, healthier, and more engaged learners. Time spent outdoors supports children’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, and social development — building confidence, communication, and empathy.

Our staff are trained through the OPAL development programme to ensure playtimes are purposeful, inclusive, and safe. Adults take on a facilitative role — observing, supporting, and enabling play while allowing children the freedom to explore independently.

At Winshill Village, OPAL is more than just play — it’s part of our whole-school culture. We believe that through meaningful outdoor play, children can “learn without limits” and develop the confidence, curiosity, and resilience they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Aims and Goals

At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, our OPAL approach to play is guided by clear aims that put children’s wellbeing, development, and happiness at the heart of everything we do. Through high-quality outdoor play, we aim to:

• Provide a safe, caring, and inclusive environment where all children feel happy, motivated, and confident to reach their full potential.

• Respect every child’s right to play, offering creative, exciting, and challenging experiences that are open and accessible to everyone.

• Encourage children to take manageable risks, helping them to build resilience, independence, and self-confidence in a supportive environment.

• Promote positive relationships, communication, and teamwork through play that encourages collaboration, problem-solving, and respect for others.

• Develop emotional and physical wellbeing, giving children the opportunity to explore, move, and play in ways that strengthen both body and mind.

• Foster a love and respect for the natural environment, inspiring children to appreciate and care for the world around them.

• Celebrate diversity and individuality, ensuring that all children — regardless of ability, background, or need — can enjoy and benefit from play.

• Empower children to make choices and take responsibility, developing self-regulation, leadership, and a sense of ownership over their play experiences.

Through these aims, we ensure that play at Winshill Village is not just a break in the day — it’s a vital, joyful, and purposeful part of every child’s learning journey.

 Our Approach to Risk and Play

At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, we believe that managed risk is an essential part of children’s learning and development. Through the OPAL approach, children are encouraged to explore, experiment, and challenge themselves in safe and carefully considered ways.

We recognise that children learn best when they are given opportunities to test their ideas, take responsibility, and make independent choices. This includes physical challenges such as climbing or balancing, as well as social and emotional risks — like trying something new, building friendships, or solving disagreements.

Our staff are trained to use dynamic risk management, balancing safety with the freedom children need to play creatively and confidently. We aim to create a culture of ‘relaxed vigilance’, where adults support and observe play rather than control it, stepping in only when necessary to keep children safe. This is also discussed with the children as Risk Benefit Analysis in our play assemblies. 

We follow national guidance, including the Health and Safety Executive’s principles for play, which recognise that:

“No child will learn about risk if they are wrapped in cotton wool.” – Play England, 2012

By providing opportunities for children to take appropriate risks, we help them to develop resilience, self-awareness, and problem-solving skills that will benefit them for life.

At Winshill Village, play is not about avoiding all risk — it’s about giving children the space to learn how to manage it safely and confidently.

Our Play Environment

At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, our outdoor spaces are designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and adventure. We continually develop our play environment to offer a wide range of opportunities that encourage children to explore, imagine, and work together.

Our playground and outdoor areas include a rich variety of open-ended materials and natural features that support all types of play — from active and physical to creative and imaginative. Children can:

• Build dens, structures, and obstacle courses using loose parts such as tyres, crates, planks, and fabric.

• Get hands-on in our mud kitchen and digging pit, discovering the joys of messy, sensory play.

• Climb, balance, and move freely to develop strength, coordination, and confidence.

• Engage in role play, storytelling, and small-world adventures that spark imagination and teamwork.

• Explore and care for our natural environment, learning about wildlife, weather, and the changing seasons.

We encourage play in all weathers, helping children develop resilience, independence, and respect for the outdoors. Families are supported to ensure children come prepared with appropriate clothing — from wellies and waterproofs in winter to hats and sun cream in summer.

Our play spaces are inclusive and adaptable, ensuring that every child can find joy and challenge in their own way. Through OPAL, play at Winshill Village is a vital, living part of our school day — where learning, laughter, and life skills grow side by side.

OPAL Family Involvement

At Winshill Village Primary and Nursery School, we love involving our families in the OPAL journey. This year, we’ve hosted OPAL Parent Play Sessions, giving parents and carers the chance to experience the joy and creativity of OPAL playtimes alongside their children. These sessions have been a fantastic way for families to see first-hand how outdoor play helps children develop confidence, imagination, and teamwork — and to join in the fun too!

We’ve also run Parent Build Sessions, where families have worked together to help us develop and enhance our outdoor play spaces. From creating new play zones to adding resources for loose-parts play, our parents have played a vital role in helping us make Winshill Village an even more exciting and inspiring place to play and learn.

Through these events, we’re building a strong sense of community, collaboration, and shared pride in the amazing play opportunities OPAL brings to our school.
Winshill Village OPAL Play Procedure