Why Thaxted Primary School Is Part of OPAL

At Thaxted Primary School, we recognise that play is not a break from learning – it is a vital part of it. Children spend around 20% of their school life at play, which is equivalent to more than one full year of primary education. The OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme helps us make this time as valuable, enriching and inclusive as possible.

The OPAL Primary Programme is an award-winning, evidence‑based school improvement programme that supports schools to develop high-quality play across the whole school. It is the only programme of its kind that has been independently proven to bring long-lasting improvements to play in British primary schools.

Why OPAL Is Needed

Childhood has changed. Many children today have fewer opportunities to play freely outdoors, often spending long periods of time on screens and less time being physically active. For some children, school is the only place they regularly play outdoors with other children.

At Thaxted Primary School, we believe that all children deserve:

• Time, space and freedom to play
• Opportunities to be active, imaginative and social
• A school environment that supports their physical and emotional wellbeing

OPAL helps us respond to these challenges by creating a positive culture of play that benefits children of all ages and abilities.

How OPAL Benefits Our Children

High‑quality play supports children’s development in ways that cannot be replicated in the classroom alone. Through OPAL, playtimes at Thaxted Primary help children to:

• Be more physically active, improving fitness and health
• Develop confidence, resilience and independence
• Build social skills such as cooperation, negotiation and empathy
• Use creativity, imagination and language
• Explore problem‑solving, construction, early engineering and mathematical thinking
• Regulate emotions, reduce stress and return to class calm and ready to learn

Research and experience from OPAL schools show that children are often more focused and ready to learn after enriched playtimes.

How OPAL Benefits the School Community

OPAL brings benefits not just for children, but for the whole school community. Schools taking part in OPAL typically see:

• Improved behaviour and fewer playtime disputes
• Fewer accidents and incidents
• Less time lost to dealing with playtime issues
• Happier children and staff
• Better use of the whole school site, all year round
• Stronger links with parents and the wider community

By embedding play into our policies, planning and everyday practice, OPAL supports a sustainable, whole‑school approach rather than short‑term fixes.

What OPAL Looks Like at Thaxted Primary School

As part of OPAL, children at Thaxted Primary School are encouraged to make choices about how and where they play within safe boundaries. Play opportunities may include:

• Creative and imaginative play
• Construction and den building with loose parts
• Role play and performance
• Physical movement such as running, balancing, scooting and climbing
• Exploration of natural materials like mud, sand and plants
• Games with and without rules

Children are supported to manage risk sensibly, care for equipment, take responsibility for tidying away and respect one another. Staff supervise play to support children, not to control it.

A Commitment to High‑Quality Play

Being an OPAL school means we are committed to continually improving play for all our children. We work with an OPAL mentor and regularly review our provision to ensure play remains safe, inclusive, challenging and exciting.

At Thaxted Primary School, we believe play is a right, a necessity and a powerful driver of learning and wellbeing. Taking part in OPAL reflects our commitment to developing confident, healthy, resilient children who enjoy coming to school every day.