OPAL Play

Hayward's School believes that all children need opportunities to play that allow them to explore, manipulate, experience and affect their environment. We believe play provision should be welcoming and accessible to every child, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, economic or social circumstances, ethnic or cultural background or origin, or individual abilities.

The OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Primary Programme rationale is that “... better, more active and creative playtimes can mean happier and healthier children, and having happier, healthier, more active children usually results in a more positive attitude to learning in school, with more effective classroom lessons, less staff time spent resolving unnecessary behavioural problems, fewer playtime accidents, happier staff and a healthier attitude to life.”

At Hayward’s we recognise that there are almost seven hours of play scheduled within the school timetable each week and we want to make this experience as rich as possible for the children. We want them to develop and refine important skills while at the same time having the opportunity to ‘play’ in a manner that they may not experience in any other setting.