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.

A Playtime at Churchill

Walk around our playground at lunchtime and you will see children immersed in a wide range of play experiences.

You might see a group of children performing on the outdoor stage, a team working together to build a den, children creating imaginative worlds in the campervan or market stalls, younger pupils exploring small world play or children challenging themselves in our active play areas.

Some children choose energetic play and sport. Others prefer creative activities, role play, construction, reading or simply spending time chatting with friends in one of our social spaces.

There is no single way to play at Churchill.

What matters is that children have the freedom, time and opportunity to choose activities that interest them, develop friendships and experience the joy of childhood.

This freedom of choice helps ensure that every child can find a place where they feel successful, included and happy.

Our Bespoke Play Curriculum

Just as we carefully plan learning experiences in the classroom, we carefully consider the opportunities available through play.    

Our playground has been developed to provide a wide range of experiences that meet the interests and needs of all children.

 Our play opportunities currently include:

 Each area has been developed with purpose and provides opportunities for children to create, collaborate, communicate, problem-solve and explore.

Most importantly, our play curriculum continues to evolve. We regularly gather pupil voice, listen to ideas and work alongside our community to develop new opportunities that reflect the interests of our children.

What Makes Churchill Different?

                           

One of the things we are most proud of is that our playground has been shaped by our children.

Our play zones are not chosen because they appear on a list. They are developed because they reflect the interests, needs and ideas of our pupils.

We think carefully about the different types of play children need and how we can provide opportunities for every child to thrive.

Our children love active play, so we have invested heavily in sports equipment and active play spaces. Children asked for imaginative spaces, so we developed role play areas, market stalls, a campervan and creative opportunities. Children wanted places to build and create, so construction, den building and loose parts play became a key focus.

Our pupils are at the heart of every decision we make.

               

Pupil Leadership Through Play

Play at Churchill is not something that happens to children. It is something they help lead.

Our Play Rangers support younger children, encourage positive play and act as role models across the playground.

Our Tidy Team help care for resources and our environment, showing pride and responsibility in our school.

Our Golden Welly Award celebrates children who consistently demonstrate our Play Charter and school values through their actions.

These opportunities help children develop leadership, responsibility and citizenship in meaningful and authentic ways.

                     

 

Working Together with Families and Our Community

One of the most remarkable parts of our OPAL journey has been the support of our wider community.

Families, local businesses and community organisations have played a huge role in helping us transform our playground.

Through donations, fundraising, volunteering and partnerships with organisations such as Port of Dover and David Wilson Homes, our play provision has continued to grow and develop.

Together, we have created exciting new spaces including our outdoor stage, mud kitchen, construction area and many other play opportunities.

This support perfectly reflects our value of Togetherness and demonstrates what can be achieved when a community works together for its children.

What Our Community Says

💬 "The difference in my child since OPAL has been incredible. They come home excited to tell me about what they have built, created and played with their friends. Every day is different and they genuinely look forward to playtime."
– Churchill Parent

💬 "I love OPAL because there is always something new to do. My favourite thing is building dens with my friends and using my imagination."
– Year 4 Pupil

💬 "Being a Play Ranger makes me feel proud because I get to help younger children and make sure everyone has someone to play with."
– Year 6 Pupil

Stay and Play

We love welcoming parents and carers into school to experience OPAL first-hand.

Our Stay and Play event provided opportunities for families to explore our play spaces, play alongside their children and experience the creativity, imagination and joy that play brings.

These events strengthen relationships between home and school whilst celebrating the importance of play in childhood.   

                                                                   

The Impact of OPAL

The impact of OPAL can be seen every day across our playground.

Children are excited to talk about playtime. They are more creative, more independent and more willing to use their imagination.

Staff regularly comment on the positive changes they have seen:

💬 "The children are much more excited and eager to talk about their playtime."

💬 "The children are using their imagination far more than before."

💬 "The choice and freedom it gives children promotes happier playtimes."

💬 "The children have taken more ownership of their play."

💬 "Children act much more like children – they are playing, exploring and creating rather than sitting around."

Staff have also noticed improvements in teamwork, communication, independence, coordination and leadership. Children increasingly play across year groups, support younger pupils and take pride in their responsibilities as Play Rangers and members of the Tidy Team.

Most importantly, our playground is filled with laughter, creativity, adventure and friendship every single day.

                            

How You Can Help

Many of our most popular play resources have come from donations from families and members of our community.

We are always grateful for donations of:

• Suitcases

• Toys and role-play resources

• Sports equipment

• Pots and pans

• Camping equipment

• Storage containers

• Loose parts for imaginative play

Every donation helps us continue creating exciting opportunities for our children.

                                                                    

 

At The Churchill School, play is more than a break from learning.

It is where friendships are formed, confidence grows, creativity flourishes and resilience is developed.

It is where children learn to lead, collaborate, take risks and believe in themselves.

Most importantly, it is where children experience the joy of childhood.

Together we play.

Together we learn.

Together we grow.

#TeamChurchill

 

 

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