OPAL - Outdoor Play and Learning
OPAL Update – You Said, We’re Doing!
Earlier this year, we asked families to tell us what they thought about playtime at Harnham and, importantly, what they would like to see us develop. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond – your views have genuinely helped to shape our OPAL journey.
One message came through incredibly strongly: you value play. Every parent who responded told us that playtime was extremely important, and you talked about the role play has in developing friendships, physical skills, confidence, emotional skills, self-control, imagination and children's connection with the natural world. Many of you also reflected that children today simply don't have the same freedom to play outdoors that we had when we were young.
So, what did you ask for?
You told us you would like to see more sand and water play, loose parts and 'junk' for building, climbing opportunities, sports and ball equipment, imaginative and small-world play, music and dancing, social spaces, play kitchens, obstacle courses and opportunities to use scooters and skateboards. You also asked us to think about planting, shade and shelter so that outdoor play can continue throughout the seasons.
And we have been listening!
Our huge new 5m x 5m sandpit is OPEN! and children will have access to much more than buckets and spades. We are developing it as a proper construction and investigation space, with digging tools, pipes, guttering, containers, wheelbarrows, sieves and lots of opportunities for large-scale collaborative play.
We are also beginning to introduce more loose parts, including tyres, pallets and large cable reels, giving children the freedom to build, balance, transport, create dens, invent obstacle courses and transform the resources into whatever their imaginations decide they should become!
Alongside this, we are continuing to develop opportunities for climbing, physical challenge, imaginative play, social spaces and a much wider range of resources across the playground.
Some parents understandably asked how we manage the additional risk that comes with providing children with greater challenge. This week, our team is undertaking further OPAL RAPID training, which focuses specifically on risk-benefit assessment, inspections and dynamic risk management. Our aim isn't to remove every bump, wobble or muddy knee from childhood; it is to remove unnecessary hazards while enabling children to experience appropriate challenge, develop judgement and become increasingly confident at managing risk themselves.
And there was another message from the survey that we loved: lots of you offered to help! Parents offered to collect loose parts, donate resources, fundraise and even lend DIY skills to help us build things. We will be taking you up on those offers over the coming months!
There is lots more still to come. We will continue sharing our OPAL developments with you so that you can see how the ideas you shared with us are becoming part of children's everyday play at Harnham.
Thank you for helping us make playtime brilliant. 💚