The ART of Being Our Best Through Play

                 

At The Churchill School, we believe that play is one of the most important parts of childhood.

Play is where children develop friendships, build confidence, solve problems, take risks, show kindness and discover who they are. It is where imagination flourishes, resilience is built and lifelong memories are made.

That is why play is not simply something that happens at lunchtime. It is a key part of who we are as a school and an important part of our Personal Development curriculum.

Through our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme, we provide children with opportunities to explore, create, collaborate, lead and thrive every day.

Our OPAL Journey

                    

Following the Covid pandemic, we spent time reflecting on what our children needed most.

Like many schools, we had seen the impact that periods of isolation had on children. We recognised that childhood had changed. Many children were spending more time indoors, spending more time on screens and had fewer opportunities to play freely with friends outside of school.

At the same time, we reviewed our school values. Through consultation with pupils, parents, staff and governors, three values emerged as being the most important to our community: Adaptability, Resilience and Togetherness.

As we reflected on these values, we realised something powerful.

Play develops all three.

Children learn adaptability when they solve problems, think creatively and respond to challenges. They develop resilience when things do not go to plan and learn to persevere. They experience togetherness through friendship, teamwork, kindness and belonging.

This realisation led us to begin our OPAL journey.

We wanted every child to have access to rich, meaningful and exciting play opportunities every single day because we believe every child deserves a great playtime.

Before OPAL, our children had limited resources available at playtime. The field was generally only used during the summer months and lunchtime consisted of thirty minutes eating followed by thirty minutes outside. Children who finished lunch early often spent valuable time waiting rather than playing.

Today, playtime looks very different.

Children now go outside first and are called in for lunch. This means every child receives the maximum amount of time to play, explore, create and socialise. As classroom doors open at midday, children run in all directions towards the opportunities that excite them most. Some head straight for sports activities, some to role play, some to construction, some to den building and others simply to spend time chatting with friends.

There is something for everyone.

That sense of freedom, choice and joy is one of the things we are most proud of.

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Why We Chose OPAL

                     

OPAL is an award-winning programme used by schools across the United Kingdom and internationally. It is based on over twenty years of research and development and is founded on a simple belief:

Every child deserves an amazing playtime every day.

Children spend around 20% of their school life at playtime – the equivalent of more than a year of their primary education.

We believe this time should be just as valuable as every other part of the school day.

Research shows that high-quality play supports children's physical health, emotional wellbeing, communication skills, creativity, resilience and confidence. It helps children develop social skills, independence and problem-solving abilities whilst promoting happiness and a sense of belonging.

As opportunities for outdoor play have reduced in many communities, schools have an increasingly important role in ensuring children can experience the benefits of rich and varied play.

For us, OPAL was not simply about improving lunchtimes. It was about creating opportunities for children to develop important life skills through play every single day.

       

  OPAL and Personal Development

                       

At The Churchill School, OPAL is not a standalone initiative. It forms an important part of our wider Personal Development curriculum.

Through play, children develop the knowledge, skills and character traits that help them become confident, responsible and active citizens. Every day, children have opportunities to demonstrate leadership, teamwork, resilience, empathy, communication and independence in meaningful and authentic situations.

Whether working together to build a den, negotiating the rules of a game, helping younger pupils, creating imaginative worlds or solving problems independently, children are constantly learning.

 

  The ART of Being Our Best Through Play

Whilst OPAL provides the framework, our play curriculum has been carefully designed around our pupils, our community and our values.

Adaptability

Whether children are building a den, creating a game, solving a problem or adapting a design, play encourages children to think creatively and embrace challenges. They learn to adapt their ideas, try different approaches and find solutions.

Resilience

Play teaches children that things do not always go to plan. Towers fall down. Structures collapse. Games need new rules. Through these experiences, children learn perseverance, determination and confidence.

Togetherness

Play brings people together. Children learn to cooperate, share ideas, include others, negotiate rules and build positive relationships. They learn empathy, kindness and respect.

Every day, our children experience The ART of Being Our Best through the choices they make, the friendships they build and the challenges they overcome.