OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning)

OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning)

At Minet Infant and Nursery School, play is an important part of our curriculum and we have partnered with OPAL, an award winning programme, to strategically and sustainably improve our play provision.

High quality, child-led play opportunities have a critical role in supporting our aims at Minet Infant and Nursery school:

have the learning and social skills to succeed and contribute;
the confidence, enthusiasm and self-belief to achieve, create and participate;
the curiosity and passion to problem-solve, take risks and be ambitious;
a sense of social responsibility that makes them team players, great friends and active citizens.

Our children have access to a wide range of materials, which they can use in their play. These currently includes tyres, crates, wood, mud, wheeled toys and much more.

Through regular play assemblies, they are taught about dynamic risk assessments and playing co-operatively with others.

We follow advice from the Health and Safety Executive, who support active play in schools:

To find out more about OPAL click here: OPAL Outdoor Play and Learning

How can families help make OPAL even better?

We need a constant supply of ‘loose parts.’ ‘Loose parts’ allow children to play in many different ways and on many different levels. Any donations from parents/ carers of any of the ‘loose parts’ listed below would be gratefully received by the school. ‘Loose parts’ should be old and unwanted items and can be any size – big or small! We are also looking for small world toys such as cars, dinosaurs, farm animals or other small figures. Any donations of ‘loose parts’ can be given to your child’s class teacher. Please can you check all items before bringing them into school to ensure their safety, for example making sure pockets/ bags are emptied, cables are cut-off, there are no nails sticking out/ sharp edges. We cannot accept items made from glass or polystyrene or batteries.

Playground Maps

East End Playground	West End Playground

OPAL Gallery

We all enjoy being outside all the year round, using all of our school grounds. OPAL allows us to be creative, to problem solve, to play with friends of all ages and most of all to have fun!