OPAL Play

OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning)

We are pleased to share that King Edward Primary School began an exciting new journey in June 2025 with the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme, a nationally recognised initiative supported by Sport England and used in hundreds of schools across the UK.

Enhancing play has been a long-standing ambition for us at King Edward, and we are committed to making playtimes more stimulating, engaging and—above all—enjoyable for every child. To help us achieve this, we are drawing on OPAL’s expertise in transforming school play environments, developing high-quality play opportunities, and building a whole-school culture that truly values play.

Over the next 18 months, our dedicated OPAL working group will create a tailored development plan for our school, supported by specialist training for all staff.
You can see an example of what we hope play will look like by watching this short video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrQb0PSXwzE

What OPAL Will Mean for Our Playtimes

As OPAL becomes embedded in school life, you will notice outdoor play at King Edward evolving in positive and exciting ways:

Children will enjoy more creative, open-ended play experiences.
Natural and upcycled materials will be available every day.
Children will take greater responsibility for shaping their own play.
Outdoor play will happen in all seasons and all weather, supported by indoor shoes and an outdoor clothing library.
We will continue to uphold the belief that play is a right, not a privilege, and essential for wellbeing and learning.

Our Approach to Supporting Play

Staff will be adopting a supportive, child-centred approach to supervising play. This includes:

Watching – taking time to observe what is happening.
Waiting – assessing what children can manage independently.
Guiding – stepping in only when necessary.
Modifying, not stopping play – helping children adapt activities to keep them both safe and fun.

This approach gives children time to develop independence, confidence, risk-assessment skills, and positive social interactions.

We understand this may feel different from traditional playground supervision. Parents and carers are warmly encouraged to ask questions at any time.

If you would like more information, please speak to the senior leadership team or a member of our play team. You can also explore OPAL’s free online training at www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk.

Together, we look forward to creating rich, joyful and meaningful play experiences for all children at King Edward Primary School.

Our New Play Zones at King Edward Primary School

As part of our OPAL journey, seven exciting new play zones are taking shape across our school grounds. Each zone supports a different type of play, ensuring every child finds something they love.

Zone 1 – Small World and Role-Play Zone

A space for imaginative storytelling and social play, using miniature figures, props and natural materials to bring ideas to life.

Zone 2 – Creative Zone

A hands-on area filled with open-ended resources that encourage drawing, building, inventing, experimenting and expressive play.

Zone 3 – Wheels Zone

A safe-riding area for scooters and other wheeled toys, supporting coordination, balance and confidence.

Zone 4 – Quiet Zone

A calm, reflective space with books, small activities and comfortable seating, ideal for children who prefer gentle, peaceful play.

Zone 5 – Sports Area

A lively zone for team games, ball skills and active play such as football, basketball and running games.

Zone 6 – Construction Zone

A dynamic building area with crates, planks, tyres and reels. Children can build dens, obstacle courses and large structures, encouraging teamwork and problem-solving.

Zone 7 – Mud Kitchen

A sensory-rich area where children can mix, dig, create and experiment using mud, water and natural materials—always a firm favourite!

Play Guardians and Playground Responsibilities

At King Edward Primary School, we believe that children can play an active role in making our playgrounds safe, fun, and welcoming. Our Play Guardians are children who act as role models for others, helping to encourage positive play, demonstrate respect, and support their peers in following playground routines. They take responsibility for tidying up equipment, looking after resources, and helping to maintain our play spaces so that everyone can enjoy them. By giving children this responsibility, we foster leadership, teamwork, and respect for shared spaces, while also encouraging children to take pride in their school and the experiences they help create.

To celebrate and encourage positive behaviours, we have two special awards:

The Golden Broom Class Award recognises the class that has earned the most tidy tokens for tidying up at the end of playtime.
The Golden Wellie Award is given to children who take care of their wellies, putting them away correctly in the wellie shed, and looking after our outdoor resources responsibly.