Learning at Stradbroke
Outdoor Play and Learning
Outdoor Play and Learning
What is Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL)?
Children in British primary schools spend around 20% of their school life—equivalent to 1.4 years—engaged in play. The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) programme helps schools take a strategic, values-based approach to making playtimes purposeful and enriching.
Play is central to children’s development. It supports learning in ways that cannot be taught through lessons alone. Through play, children build strong brains, develop physical skills, and learn how to form positive relationships. High-quality play opportunities help children become confident, resilient and creative learners.
Find Out More:
Click here for our official launch letter.
To learn more about the OPAL approach, please visit the official website:
https://outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk/
How OPAL Supports Our School
The OPAL programme enables schools to create outdoor environments that are safe, stimulating and developmentally rich. Resources—both natural and man-made—are used to inspire imagination, collaboration and active play. Play spaces are designed to be safe enough for health and safety requirements while still offering appropriate challenge to support children’s growth.
At Stradbroke Primary School, OPAL is an important and valued part of the school day. Children and staff alike look forward to being outdoors to play, explore and learn together. We are committed to providing high-quality play for every child because we believe it is essential for their physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual development.
Many of our favourite childhood memories come from playing outdoors—climbing trees, inventing games and exploring the world around us. Through OPAL, we aim to give those same joyful and meaningful experiences to our pupils.
The Transformational Impact of OPAL
Introducing OPAL involves a series of carefully planned steps, supported by a specialist OPAL mentor. Together, we develop a whole-school approach to play, embedding clear principles and practices into our policies and daily routines. This cultural shift in how we view play leads to powerful, long-lasting benefits.
- Schools that fully engage with OPAL often see transformational results, including:
- Happier, more confident and more engaged children
- Improved behaviour during playtimes
- Increased physical activity
- Stronger social skills and positive relationships
- A more inclusive, creative and supportive school environment
- When children’s play needs are met, they are more settled, more socially connected and better prepared for learning.
How OPAL Connects to Our Personal Development Key Drivers
Our OPAL provision strengthens the core aims of our Personal Development curriculum:
- Innovation – Children are encouraged to think creatively, solve problems and invent their own games, developing original ideas through open-ended play.
- Experience – OPAL provides a wide range of meaningful, hands-on experiences that help children explore the world, try new activities and build confidence.
- Culture – Shared play helps children understand cooperation, fairness and respect, supporting a positive school culture where everyone feels included.
- Community – Outdoor play encourages teamwork, communication and responsibility, helping children build strong relationships within our school community.
- Aspiration – Through challenge, exploration and imaginative play, children learn to set goals, take risks safely and believe in their own potential.