Why OPAL?

Childhood has changed. Many children today have fewer opportunities to play freely outdoors. Research shows:

• Average screen time per day: 5 hours
• Average outdoor play time per week: 5 hours
• Children who only play outdoors with others at school: 56%

By enhancing our play provision, we want to make sure our children benefit from the experiences they need to stay healthy, develop confidence and build essential life skills. Schools who follow the OPAL programme often see:

• Increased enjoyment of school
• Fewer disputes and accidents
• Improved behaviour and social interactions
• More time focused on learning

The Benefits of Play

Play is not “just play” — it is how children discover the world and who they are. Through OPAL, we support all areas of learning and wellbeing:

• Play supports learning

       Through play, children develop:

• Cognitive skills — problem-solving, early maths and reasoning
• Language and literacy — new vocabulary, storytelling, using print in meaningful ways
• Social skills — sharing, turn-taking, building friendships
• Physical skills — balance, coordination, strength and stamina

• Play is healthy

Active play supports strong bodies, heart health and lifelong habits that counter growing concerns around childhood inactivity and obesity.

• Play supports emotional wellbeing

Play is joyful. It allows children to safely express emotions, build resilience and reduce stress.

• Play builds creativity and imagination

From building dens to inventing games, children learn to think creatively and explore new ideas.

• Play encourages independence and confidence

Children learn to take manageable risks, solve problems and make decisions for themselves — all key to developing independence.

• Play outdoors matters

The outdoors offers space, challenge, movement and nature — all vital ingredients for a happy and healthy childhood.

Our Commitment

We believe that play is a powerful vehicle for learning. OPAL ensures every child has the chance to:
✅ explore
✅ invent
✅ collaborate
✅ challenge themselves
✅ make memories that will last a lifetime

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We are excited to be on this journey and look forward to seeing our children continue to flourish through high-quality play.

Come and join us at Christ Church as we transform playtimes together!