Latest News

Has Covid-19 led to a reduction in school playtimes?

Michael Follett, OPAL Director, explores whether playtimes have been reduced in Primary Schools due to Covid-19 measures and highlights the consequences such a move could have for children.

OPAL wins funding from Sport England and The National Lottery

The funding will mean OPAL can work with many more schools, carers and parents to ensure all children have a childhood filled with fun, active outdoor play.

Protecting Play

The coronavirus lock-down has meant life has changed dramatically for children and simple everyday activities present new challenges. If children are to thrive, as well as making sure our children feel safe and are well looked after, we also need to allow play to continue.

Play in a time of lock-down

Play is essential to the mental and physical well being of children wherever they are. During the period of lock-down we will continue to support schools, parents and carers with ideas to enrich children’s play opportunities.

Take the Play Challenge

Schools want to improve playtimes, they may want to improve behaviour, create happier playtimes, increase physical activity or mental well-being. But it is not a matter of simply laying some playground markings, putting in a trim trail or adding a few loose parts.

Fun idea for Outdoor Classroom Day

A blog for Outdoor Classroom Day by OPAL Director Michael Follett. Never mind complicated playground games or playground equipment if you want to improve behaviour and well-being in schools the answer is better play.!

Ten tips for excellent play

Once you have tried playground markings, trim trails, skipping workshops, buddy benches and playground games, all without lasting improvement, what can you do next to improve your playtimes?

How to make playtimes excellent

In this blog on the Parentkind website, Michael Follett describes how PTAs can use their hard-earned money to make a lasting difference to playtimes for every child in their school.

Schematic Play Parts 1-3

Guest blogger Michael Follett Director of OPAL Outdoor Play and Learning and author of Creating Excellence in Primary School Playtimes writes about the patterns of behaviours common in children’s play and how to support children to explore them.

Managing school playtimes safely

The purpose of this blog is to help adults provide better play for children by making sure that adults’ decisions on risk are up to date with the current legal and advisory framework.