Introducing our programme
We created the OPAL Primary Programme to support better learning, activity and
socialisation and, above all, bring daily joy and happiness into children's lives.
Why outdoor play
in schools matters
Children in British primary schools spend 20% or 1.4 years of their school attendance in play, yet most schools have no strategic or values-based approach to play across all ages.
Play is the process through which children learn everything that they need to know that cannot be taught. Play wires the brain, builds capable bodies, and is the foundation of building relationships.
OPAL's programme enables schools to provide every child with rich opportunities to be creative, collaborative and active in their outdoor play, in environments that are safe enough for 'health and safety' but challenging enough for children's ongoing development.
-80%
OPAL schools report up to 80% decreases in use of behaviour policies and 90% drops in senior leadership time spent in resolving playtime issues.
2,000
To date, OPAL has run programmes in over 2,000 schools throughout the UK and has recently expanded to the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
30+
Most schools report 10 minutes a day, or 30 hours a year, more teaching time per teacher due to the disappearance of post-playtime disputes and frustrations.
Is it right
for my school?
The OPAL Primary Programme was developed in response to demand from schools for help in resolving issues at playtime.
These issues can include boredom, high levels of accidents and playground incidents, lack of respect for supervisors and a constant stream of low-level behaviour problems, as well as a desire to improve the quality of children’s play experiences in school, and a desire by school leaders to pursue excellence in all areas of schools’ performance.
What does our
programme
involve?
The OPAL Primary Programme comprises of the following structured sessions spread over 18-24 months, or as long as the school needs.
What are
the programme
benefits ?
“OPAL is one of the most impactful transformations on children's lives that we've seen in the UK in the last 10 years – not just in schools, not just in education, but just as a way of making a positive difference in children's lives... I'm in awe, actually.”
Tim Gill
Independent scholar and global advocate for children’s play and mobility.
Join the OPAL
community
Hundreds of new schools each year are discovering the many benefits of the OPAL Primary Programme.
Through our online platform OPAL College, monthly free online meetings, newsletters and interschool visits, we are building an international community of schools.