OPaL- OUTDOOR PLAY AND LEARNING

Friendly Friday

At the start of February 2025 we enjoyed our very first Friendly Friday, where children can choose where they would like to play anywhere across the school site. Our youngest pupils were supported by their older buddies and staff on hand to make sure everyone had a great time, despite the drab and chilly weather

Did you know, children in British primary schools spend 20% or 1.4 years of their school attendance in play?

Prae Wood is excited to announce our participation in Outdoor Play and Learning (OPaL), a project that encourages children to learn and thrive as they play. Other local schools have started to be included in OPaL as it is a popular new way of learning while playing.

On Friday 24th January, the children will be introduced to the programme in assembly. We believe this is a very important project as children need to be happy, healthy and educated, something they can also learn through play.

Mrs Childs and Mrs Velasco have taken on the role of OPaL play co-ordinators and will be on the playgrounds every lunchtime, supporting play and encouraging the children to try new things.

Research shows that play contributes to children's physical and emotional health, wellbeing, approach to learning and enjoyment of school

In addition to our play co-ordinators, a keen group of Year 6s have also volunteered to be OPaL Organisers - a vital role in helping get the project up and running.

Isabelle and Jaydon (on behalf of the Y6 OPaL Organisers) said:

'Did you know that your child spends up to 1.4 years out at play during their time at primary school? As OPaL Organisers, we are all very responsible Y6s and know exactly what we are doing. We can't wait to start the project and we'd love for you to get involved! Watch this space for details about donations you can make (you won't need to buy anything, we promise!). Some of the things we would like to introduce are mud kitchens, Freedom Friday (in which the children could mix up and interact across the whole school) and a stereo system of calm and appropriate music that we will download.'

Prae Wood Primary School

OPaL- OUTDOOR PLAY AND LEARNING

Friendly Friday

Did you know, children in British primary schools spend 20% or 1.4 years of their school attendance in play?

Research shows that play contributes to children's physical and emotional health, wellbeing, approach to learning and enjoyment of school

Isabelle and Jaydon (on behalf of the Y6 OPaL Organisers) said:

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