St. Nicholas is a Church of England primary school located in Alcester,  Warwickshire. The school has approximately 430 pupils on roll.

There is a lot of tarmac and green space.

The school’s vision of ‘dream big, shine bright’ permeates through all that the school does but especially in OPAL.

As a Thrive school, St. Nicholas immediately commits to the social and emotional development of every child. Pupils of all ages play beautifully together.

‘When you stand and watch the amount that is going on across the whole site, the fun, the laughter, the creativity, the problem solving and teamwork, the excitement from seeing the frog family – it’s just what children should be doing – playing!’

What were the main issues you were facing at playtime?

The children at our school had very little to do and they were bored, resulting in behavioural issues.

Why did you get OPAL to work with your school?

We wanted to improve the quality of play and liked their ideas.

What measures had you tried already?

Employing sports staff to come in and do sessions with the children at lunchtime.

What did OPAL help with that you couldn’t do yourselves?

Our OPAL Mentor helped us to train staff, gave us lots of ideas and support with the necessary documentation.

How did the programme impact pupils’ physical, social, emotional, mental, and cognitive development?

It has had a huge impact on improving children’s development.

How did the programme meet the needs of all your children, in particular pupils with SEND?

All children can engage in all areas of play regardless of their needs.

How did the programme impact attendance?

I think attendance has remained the same.

How did the programme impact communication, vocabulary, and imagination?

The programme has definitely improved children’s imagination. They are so creative with the things that they make and the games that they play.

How did the school secure funding and resources?

The PTA gave us some funding, and the whole school community supported us with resources.

What partnerships proved most valuable?

Parental engagement and support!

What was the impact on parents and wider community members?

Parents love our OPAL play, and we have had lots of support from local residents and businesses.