OPAL: Outdoor Play and Learning
At Eastfield Primary Academy, we believe that play is an essential part of childhood. Children need opportunities to explore, create, imagine, take appropriate risks, solve problems and learn alongside others.
Through our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) approach, we aim to ensure that every child has access to high-quality, active and creative play opportunities. Our outdoor environment and resources encourage children to make choices about their play, develop their imagination and enjoy being active outdoors throughout the year.
OPAL supports our belief that all individuals are nurtured to flourish and links closely to our three academy drivers:
• Pride: children learn to take responsibility for themselves, our environment, equipment and one another.
• Collaboration: children play together, communicate, negotiate, solve problems and build positive relationships.
• Understanding: children explore the world around them, consider the needs of others and learn to make choices and manage appropriate risks.
The Value of Play
We believe that play makes an important contribution to children's physical, social and emotional development. Through high-quality play opportunities, children can:
• develop confidence, independence and resilience;
• build friendships and develop their communication and negotiation skills;
• use their imagination and creativity;
• make choices and solve problems;
• experience challenge and learn to manage appropriate risks;
• develop physical skills and enjoy being active;
• explore different materials, environments and ideas;
• learn to cooperate and resolve disagreements;
• develop responsibility for themselves, others and their environment; and have fun!
Our aim is to create a varied, stimulating and inclusive play environment where every child can participate, explore and flourish.
Playing Outdoors Throughout the Year
At Eastfield, we believe there is no such thing as the wrong weather for outdoor play, just the need to come appropriately prepared!
Children have opportunities to play outdoors throughout the year, so we ask families to ensure that they have suitable clothing for the weather.
During colder and wetter weather, children should bring a warm, waterproof coat. Wellies are particularly useful when children are playing on the field or exploring muddier areas.
During warmer weather, children should bring a sun hat and appropriate sun protection.
Outdoor play can sometimes get messy and children may come home muddy! This is part of the fun of exploring, creating and learning outdoors.
We have a small supply of spare wellies and coats available to help ensure that all children can access our outdoor environment.
Play at Eastfield
Our OPAL provision complements our wider Personal Development offer and provides children with opportunities to develop many of the skills and qualities that we value at Eastfield.
Most importantly, we want our children to enjoy being outdoors, play imaginatively, build friendships and make the most of every minute of their time at Eastfield.