OPAL Play and Learning
Comberbach Nursery and Primary School is now participating in the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme. We are working towards developing our play offer so that our children can enjoy a wider range of play experiences during lunchtime.
We strongly believe that: “Play is freely chosen, personally directed, intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages the child. Play can be fun or serious. Through play children explore social, material and imaginary worlds and their relationship with them, elaborating all the while a flexible range of responses to the challenges they encounter. By playing, children learn and develop as individuals, and as members of the community.” (Children’s Play Council 2001)
Improving our playscape and giving our children more space to engage in self-selected pursuits and allowing children the freedom to access a range of environments and loose parts will have many benefits including:
- Promotes independence and problem-solving
- Provides direct experience of cause and effect (natural consequences)
- Develops coordination and bodily control
- Boosts self-confidence and emotional resilience
- Promotes self-regulation
- Reduces stress and fears
- Satisfies natural need for challenge and thrill
Please follow the links below to find out more
Comberbach Nursery and Primary School Play charter (link to play charter/ policy)
Key School Contacts
Miss Martin – Head of School
Mr Newton – OPAL Strategic Lead
Mr Hodson – OPAL Play Lead
Rebecca Hynes – Parent Champion
Frances Barry – OPAL Governor
