Our Values
KindnessCreating happiness
Friendship Showing patience Sharing encouraging words and our time Thoughtfulness |
CuriosityInquisitiveness
Exploration Discovery Asking questions Making connections |
UnderstandingWelcoming all
Celebrating difference Being inclusive Asking for help when we need it Being tolerant |
BraveryTaking risks
Being adventurous Trying new things Challenging one’s self Standing up for what is right |
ResponsibilityDoing the right thing
Being reliable Care for self, others and the environment Using our manners Taking ownership |
OPAL Stay and Play session
Dear parents and carers,
As you will be aware we are working hard to really develop our lunchtime provision for our children through the OPAL project which stands for Outdoor Play and Learning. It is a widely used, award-winning school improvement program designed to help primary schools dramatically improve the quality, safety, and inclusivity of children's playtimes. We have held several OPAL working party days for parents to help us to develop the zones in the school grounds to support children’s play and the children are now using these different zones daily.
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming OPAL Stay and Play session on Thursday 15th October from 3.30pm – 4.30pm, meeting in the school hall. This session is a wonderful opportunity for you to:
What to wear:
Please wear sturdy, flat shoes and dress appropriately for the weather, as we will be outside on the playground/field. We will still continue even if it is raining!
Safety reminders:
Please note that smoking, vaping, and the use of mobile phones for photography are not permitted on school grounds.
Please use the google form link below if you would like to attend. We are limiting places to one adult with your child/children and there will be a total limit of 100 places due to space in the school hall. Places will be given on a first come, first served basis (when the google form is completed).
https://forms.gle/mJff5MCrdyUpoAAUA
If more than 100 people express an interest we will run another Stay and Play session for you to attend at a slightly later date. We will inform you by email if you have, or have not been successful in securing a place on the Stay and Play session on Thursday 15th October.
Yours sincerely,
Bridget Adnett and Hannah Garrett
Deputy Headteachers
As you will be aware we are working hard to really develop our lunchtime provision for our children through the OPAL project which stands for Outdoor Play and Learning. It is a widely used, award-winning school improvement program designed to help primary schools dramatically improve the quality, safety, and inclusivity of children's playtimes. We have held several OPAL working party days for parents to help us to develop the zones in the school grounds to support children’s play and the children are now using these different zones daily.
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming OPAL Stay and Play session on Thursday 15th October from 3.30pm – 4.30pm, meeting in the school hall. This session is a wonderful opportunity for you to:
- See our OPAL play zones in action.
- Join in with your child’s activities and follow their lead.
- Experience first-hand how much fun outdoor play and learning can be.
What to wear:
Please wear sturdy, flat shoes and dress appropriately for the weather, as we will be outside on the playground/field. We will still continue even if it is raining!
Safety reminders:
Please note that smoking, vaping, and the use of mobile phones for photography are not permitted on school grounds.
Please use the google form link below if you would like to attend. We are limiting places to one adult with your child/children and there will be a total limit of 100 places due to space in the school hall. Places will be given on a first come, first served basis (when the google form is completed).
https://forms.gle/mJff5MCrdyUpoAAUA
If more than 100 people express an interest we will run another Stay and Play session for you to attend at a slightly later date. We will inform you by email if you have, or have not been successful in securing a place on the Stay and Play session on Thursday 15th October.
Yours sincerely,
Bridget Adnett and Hannah Garrett
Deputy Headteachers
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How can you help?...
We are starting to prepare for our exciting new project to make our playtimes even better, in conjunction with Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) CIC. In 2018, OPAL won the best active schools’ programme in Europe award and has been cited in two parliamentary reports as delivering outstanding practice. OPAL is working closely with Sport England to promote more active childhoods, which is one of the many reasons we are improving our playtime, as well as to improve opportunities for socialisation, cooperation, coordination, resilience, creativity, imagination and enjoyment for your child.
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).
We are beginning to prepare for the project, and our hopes are that it will change the way we think and how we play together. To facilitate this project, we will need to buy some new resources, move some things around on the playground and require some loose parts. Loose parts are any materials that can be easily moved, combined, and incorporated into children's free play. The items we are initially looking for will enable us to enjoy a wider range of play experiences during playtime:
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).
We are beginning to prepare for the project, and our hopes are that it will change the way we think and how we play together. To facilitate this project, we will need to buy some new resources, move some things around on the playground and require some loose parts. Loose parts are any materials that can be easily moved, combined, and incorporated into children's free play. The items we are initially looking for will enable us to enjoy a wider range of play experiences during playtime:
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Natural resources:
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Different areas of play...
Mud Kitchen |
Den Building |
Small World |
Music and Performance |
Large Loose Parts |
Wheeled Play |
Arts and Craft |
