OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning)

We Grow, Learn and Achieve by following Christ.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school." Albert Einstein

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” Margaret Mead

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." Malcolm X

“The soul is healed by being with children.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky

OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning)

At St. Vincent's, we are proud to be part of the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme, which transforms playtimes into rich, purposeful and enjoyable experiences for every child. OPAL helps us create exciting and inclusive outdoor spaces where children can explore, build, imagine and problem-solve through high-quality play. This approach supports children’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, creativity and social development, while also promoting cooperation and resilience. With OPAL, our playtimes are calmer, happier and more active, helping every child return to the classroom ready to learn.

Over the next 18 months, we will be integrating the OPAL programme to enhance the quality of play for all children. We will begin by carefully planning and preparing, developing policies, and creating a clear vision for how OPAL will work in our school. This phased approach ensures that every step is thoughtfully implemented, laying the foundation for exciting, inclusive, and meaningful play experiences that will benefit our whole school community.

St. Vincent's Play Policy

Opal Play Policy.pdf

To support this initiative, we are seeking donations of clean, safe, and usable items (NOT broken) that will enhance our play provision. To help with organisation, we will be requesting specific donations each week. The schedule is as follows:

Week beginning 28th April – Small world: Lego (small and large), toy animals, toy cars/trucks, toy buildings, toy tools etc. Completed
Week beginning 5th May – Mud kitchen: Pots, pans, spoons, lids, utensils etc. Completed
Week beginning 12th May – Arts and Crafts: Paint brushes (Small and large), paint rollers, chalk of all sizes, child friendly and washable paint, pencils, felt tips, markers, easels, rolls of papers/wallpaper, fabrics etc. Completed
Week beginning 19th May - Recycling Area/Large Loose Parts: Cardboard, wood, crates, pallets, electrical items (computers, laptops, TVs, remotes, etc.), tyres etc. Completed

We are delighted to be working closely with our PTA, who have been amazing in raising funds to bring OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) to our school. Their support is helping us create exciting and inclusive play opportunities for every child. To find out more about their efforts and how you can get involved, please visit the PTA’s fundraising page for details on ways to support this exciting project.