What are the benefits?

Research has shown that children spend 20% of their time in school playing, that is equivalent to the time they spend in numeracy and literacy lessons. To ensure that this time and our fantastic school grounds are used to their full potential, our school has enlisted the support of OPAL.

The OPAL approach promotes a more inclusive play environment in which all children can feel comfortable to express themselves. You can find out more about OPAL and their philosophy here: https://outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk/

We believe that OPAL will help our children in many ways:

• To be more active; improving fitness, physical development, and co-ordination.
• Increase happiness
• Improve confidence, self-esteem, and self-awareness
• Increase productivity and concentration
• Improve communication skills; negotiation, problem solving and teamwork
• Improve independence, imagination, and creativity.

What is OPAL going to look like at Ridgeway?

This is a significant project for us to undertake and as such, we will be working with OPAL over the next 18 months. At the moment, we are in the early stages of our journey but want to keep you involved in our project and show you some amazing builds and brilliant players. Keep your eye out on this page for updates.

How can you  help?

In the meantime, to get our journey started we need your help. If you are having a clear out and are in a position to donate, we are looking for the following items:

• Unwanted dress up outfits. jackets, trousers or skirts with elasticated waists, dresses,- anything that can be worn over the children’s school uniform;

• Bubbles, plastic buckets and spades, bowls and plates etc.

• Items for a mud kitchen i.e., pots, pans, large utensils

• Trowels – no forks please

• Soft suitcases, hand bags, prams and pushchairs

• Wheeled toys (bikes and scooters)

• Small world toys and cars etc

• Material i.e.: curtains, bedsheets, blankets.

If you work in a trade and/or have access to larger items such as tyres, crates, pallets, rubber or plastic pipes, hoses, cable drume etc. then please get in touch with the office and our OPAL lead, Miss Light, will get back to you.

Our OPAL Newsletters can be found below