Pupils celebrate their OPAL Gold Award, with headteacher Hannah Clark and OPAL Mentor Kate Gallon
A NORTH East primary school has transformed its playtimes by creating new spaces and activities that staff say are helping pupils focus better.
Howden-le-Wear Primary School, in County Durham, has received a Gold Award from Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) for the way it has enriched playtimes.
As well as breaking down barriers to play between different age groups, the school’s playground is unrecognisable after the addition of a range of activity areas, including arts and sculpture, a digging site, a mud kitchen, dress-up and performance zones, den-building equipment, and more.
Pupils are encouraged to climb trees in a safe but adventurous manner
Lucy Craig, the school’s OPAL Play Leader, said: “Since introducing OPAL, we’ve seen the children are more focused and better able to put their energy into learning during class time, and behaviour has improved across the school.”
Pupils even applied to become Play Buddies, and now hold responsibility for different aspects of playtimes, such as ensuring that younger children are able to join in and equipment is put away properly.
Marcie, one of the pupil Play Buddies, said: “Since OPAL, everything at break times has just got bigger and bigger, and better and better! There’s loads to do, there’s always lots of stuff to play with.”
Her classmate Harry agreed, adding: “I think having time to play is important, because it means we’re using our imaginations.”
The mud kitchen is a popular addition to the school grounds
Kate Gallon, OPAL Mentor for the North East, presented staff and pupils at the Advance Learning Partnership school with the OPAL Gold Award.
She said: “Play is super important, and a major part of the school day. Not only does strong play help us feel good about ourselves, but it helps children learn, and it helps them focus.
“It’s clear how much effort has gone into enriching playtimes at Howden-le-Wear Primary. When I visited to assess if they’d reached the necessary standard, they blew my socks off!
“This amazing transformation is down to the hard work of the team here. No matter the challenge, they never lost sight of what they wanted to do for the children.”
Pupils were rewarded for their efforts with a free play afternoon, allowing them to make full use of the many activities on offer.
Headteacher Hannah Clark said: “One of my favourite ways that OPAL has impacted our school is the way all the different age groups now interact together.
“We now see our nursery children playing with older classmates, who look after and play independently with them during break times. It’s been a wonderful change.”
The children have everything they need to build dens and forts
