Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL)
At Lidget Green, we are proud to be an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) school, committed to transforming playtimes into rich, inclusive, and engaging experiences for all our children. OPAL is a nationally recognised programme that supports schools in developing high-quality play opportunities, fostering creativity, resilience, and wellbeing in pupils.
We believe that play is a crucial part of every child’s development. Through OPAL, we provide a variety of exciting outdoor experiences that encourage children to be imaginative, active, and collaborative. Whether it's building structures, loose parts play, or exploring nature, our playground is a space where children can learn through play in a way that nurtures their confidence, social skills, and problem-solving abilities.
By embedding the OPAL ethos into our school culture, we ensure that playtimes are not just enjoyable but also contribute to children’s emotional, physical, and social development. Our staff are trained to support and encourage high-quality play, and our OPAL Leaders—children trained to help facilitate play—play an important role in making break times fun and inclusive for everyone.
We have been on our OPAL journey since Summer 2024 and are continually developing our outdoor spaces and resources to ensure our children have the best possible play opportunities. We also value the support of our parents and community in helping us enhance our play provision.
Being an OPAL school means that play is at the heart of what we do. We are dedicated to providing an environment where every child can thrive, explore, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
For more information about OPAL, please feel free to get in touch or visit the links below to learn more about this fantastic programme.
https://outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk/opal-programme/introduction/
https://outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk/
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Why Outdoor Play Matters
Children who play outdoors move more, sleep more, eat better, are happier and care about the planet more. At Lidget Green Primary School, we recognise that outdoor play isn't just fun – it's essential for your child's development and wellbeing.
What Does Outdoor Play Do for Your Child?
When children play outdoors at Lidget Green, they experience benefits across every area of their development:
- Physical Health & Wellbeing
- They're really active
- They sleep better
- They're sick less often
- They learn how their body moves and where it ends
- Social & Emotional Development
- They make friends and build deeper friendships
- They learn to trust themselves and feel trusted by adults
- They build grit and resilience
- They fall... and they get up
- They're happy
- Learning & Creativity
- They explore and experiment
- They work out their problems
- They try out 'real life' scenarios
- They have lots to talk about
- They learn about nature and learn to care for the planet
- Behaviour & Concentration
Children in OPAL schools make deeper friendships, concentrate and behave better in class, and have less time off school due to illness.
Our Commitment as an OPAL School
As part of the OPAL Primary Programme, we have introduced;
- More space to play
- More stuff to play with
- A risk-benefit approach so children are safe to take the risks they need
- Training for the staff that look after children's play
- This means your child will have access to exciting play opportunities including den-making, mud kitchens, outdoor chalking, and much more – all designed to support their natural curiosity and love of play.
Comments from parents about OPAL (March 2026);
“My child loves being outdoors exploring equipment etc”
“It freshens their minds and takes their mind off other things. Also it’s some form of physical activity they are getting into their daily routine”
“Children need to be let out to release energy staying indoors a lot can cause stress and children can hate school”
Comments from staff about the impact of OPAL (March 2026);
“There is lots for the children to do, time to talk and interact with one another. Lots of space and physical activity”
“The trim trail is a huge success”.
“Opal has transformed our playtimes. It is lovely to see different year groups interacting and especially siblings. The children are really benefiting from this time to play and interact. We will continue to improve the equipment available”.
