OPAL Week 2 – 04.04.2024

This week we have:

• Built forts out of the foam shapes
• Rolled up and down hills in the tunnel
• Whizzed around in the bikes and cars
• Enjoyed picnics outside
• Created and invented games – we now have a Travel Agents!
• “Cooked” and shared some unusual dishes
• Played together
• Worked together
• HAD FUN!!

This week has been another success – thank you for your continued support and donations!

Next week:

• We are introducing chalk
• Learning how to climb trees safely
• Continuing our work around sharing
• Working on speeding up Tidy Up Time!

OPAL Update

26.02.2024

THE ROLL OUT HAS BEGUN!

This afternoon, we had an incredible time exploring new areas to play in, as well as new things to play with.

Today we have introduced a few new things. We are introducing new areas and new practices very gradually.
 

• KS2 children now have a longer play time at lunch with their lunch break beginning at 12.10pm.
• Children with sandwiches are now able to have a picnic outside in the outdoor classroom or (as the weather improves) on a blanket.
• Children now have two songs to listen out for at the end of play time. One song (Can't Stop This Feeling) begins 4 minutes of tidying up. The second 2 minute song (Bye, Bye, Bye) lets the children know it's time to remove their wellies and outdoor clothing and make their own way back into class.
• All children throughout school are now able to play with children from any class. They're no longer separated according to Key Stage Groups.
• From today, children are able to access the Activity Town and garden.

The children have said:

“This is the best day ever!”
“This is so much more fun!”
“Play time was loads more better today!”

"I love the car and the building bricks!"
"It was so lovely - I never wanted to come to school but I really do now!"
 

OPAL Update (15.02.2024)

A BIG THANK YOU TO HIGH PEAK SCAFFOLDING FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION OF SCAFFOLDING BOARDS - WE HOPE TO USE THESE FOR A BRAND NEW, SUPER DUPER SAND PIT!

A BIG THANK YOU TO TINY TOWN IN BARLBOROUGH WHO HAVE DONATED A KITCHEN FOR US TO USE IN OUR SOON-TO-BE MUD KITCHEN!

We’ve invited the children to join us in playing “OPAL Bingo” over half term. Each class has been challenged to bring in items on their bingo sheets. The winning class who manage to collect most items will receive a fabulous prize! The bingo list is not exclusive so if you are having a clear out and you see something that you think we could use, please feel free to pass it our way! Anything old or a bit temperamental, please consider donating to us.

This game is a way to help us kick-start our OPAL Project as soon as we’re back after half-term.

Your support is really appreciated!

As of Monday 26^th February 2024, the OPAL roll out is beginning. The field will be accessible in all weather, every day. All of the children have access to wellies at school however, if you do have splash suits, waterproof trousers or anything to protect their clothing, please send them with your children on a daily basis.

Please also ensure spare clothes are provided because it’s highly likely the children will get messy!

We can’t wait to get started!

Welcome to our OPAL Hub!

We are beginning to roll out our Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Project and this is the place to be for all of the updates!

With OPAL, we hope to provide every child at Brockley Primary School, with outstanding opportunities for play. It might be surprising to hear, that children spend approximately 1.4 years of their primary school life playing. From now on, we really hope to make it count!

The OPAL roll out will be a gradual process, spanning over about 18 months but once it's in place, we feel that the whole school and its ethos will be forever changed - for the better!

We hope that OPAL will:

• Build resilience
• Allow for creativity
• Ensure that all children of all ages can play with who they like, where they like
• Give the children ownership over their own play experiences
• Promote positive mental, physical and emotional well-being
• Encourage children to be outside.

Most importantly, we hope that OPAL will be fun!

We've got some big ideas coming in from children, parents and staff.

Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey!