Cavendish Primary School
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It has long been recognised that play is essential for a child’s health, happiness, development, and well-being. Studies show that children spend about 20% of their school time playing. This insight led us to consider how we could enhance playtimes here at Cavendish, which sparked the beginning of our OPAL journey.
The OPAL vision is that “every child in every school enjoys an amazing playtime every day.” As a school, we fully embrace this vision and understand the profound impact that play has on a child’s life.
We have adopted the OPAL approach and collaborated with our school community to improve our play offerings. Our outdoor spaces are continually evolving to provide an even greater variety of play opportunities. The children enjoy playing in diverse areas, such as rolling in tyres, building dens, performing on stage, chatting with friends, or racing around on scooters. They are not only having fun but also developing vital life skills like teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and resilience, all while fostering creativity and imagination.
Our children have the freedom to play wherever and with whomever they choose. They are free to explore and engage in imaginative play, experimenting, solving problems, and enjoying themselves with a wide range of resources available.
The OPAL play project has been a resounding success, with children relishing their experience in an OPAL school. The project continues to grow, but there’s always more to do. With the continued support of our OPAL team and amazing families, we will keep transforming the play environment to spark and inspire our children’s imaginations.
Your child may come home a little messy…
Most parents/carers who participated in the survey shared that they are happy with their children coming home with muddy clothes and are not concerned about minor accidents.
