🌿 OPAL Lunchtime Project

Bringing Joy, Creativity and Meaningful Play to Every School Day

At our school, we are proud to be launching the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Lunchtime Project — a nationally recognised, evidence‑based approach that transforms playtimes into richer, happier, healthier experiences for every child.

The OPAL Primary Programme helps schools create high‑quality, inclusive outdoor play that supports learning, wellbeing, and social development. Its core belief is simple: play is essential to childhood — and when children have great play opportunities, everything else improves.

🌟 Why We’re Doing This

Children spend up to 20% of their time in school engaged in play, yet many schools lack a structured, values‑based approach to supporting it. OPAL helps us change that by giving children opportunities to be creative, active, collaborative and confident outdoors.

Research shows that high‑quality outdoor play supports:

• Improved wellbeing and reduced stress
• Better behaviour with fewer playground disputes
• More active, healthier children
• Improved social skills and friendships
• Better readiness for learning in the classroom

💚 The Bigger Picture: Play Matters

Childhood today looks very different from the past — with increased screen time, reduced outdoor play, and growing concerns around children’s physical and mental health. OPAL helps address these challenges by ensuring that meaningful outdoor play is a daily, protected, and valued part of school life. 

Through OPAL, children learn skills that cannot be taught through formal lessons, including:

• Confidence and resilience
• Social and emotional skills
• Creativity and problem‑solving
• Physical literacy
• Independence and self‑direction 

🤝 How Our Community Can Help

As we develop our OPAL Lunchtime Project, we may invite families to contribute materials, skills or expertise. Items such as safe loose parts, outdoor equipment, and natural materials can greatly enrich children’s play experiences.

OPAL Parent Afternoon – What Parents Said

Parents were extremely positive about our OPAL Parent Afternoon, praising the strong interaction between staff and children and how engaged and happy the children were throughout.

“Excellent interaction between the staff and the children.”
“All of the children seemed to be very engaged and enjoying the session.”

Families enjoyed exploring the OPAL play area and recognised the value of child‑led play in supporting wellbeing and development:

“It’s amazing that it is child led.”
“Really good session – I feel the area will be great for developing play and improving pupil wellbeing.”

Parents also valued the opportunity to spend quality time together:

“Perfect time spent with my daughter.”

We look forward to welcoming the next group of parents to our upcoming OPAL session.