Heathery Knowe Primary School is celebrating achieving its Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Award. They are the second school in Scotland to achieve this!
Beginnings
Heathery Knowe Primary School started their OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) journey with Play Scotland in August 2022.
They decided to start the program out of a desire to improve behaviour through reducing boredom. They were also interested in the benefits relating to impulse control, increased activity, improved agency in terms of assessing their own risk, and improved fine and gross motor skills.
Changes through OPAL
They have made physical changes to the space including a new large outdoor classroom space, reading shed, loose parts construction zone, digging and loads of small world areas as well as a sandpit. But the biggest change we have seen is to the ‘sound’ of the playground – just stop and listen for a moment and you can hear happiness and enjoyment.
Staff changes, including a temporary and now a new Head Teacher have posed a challenge, but the staff team has been the personification of energy and commitment during change.
Success of OPAL
Heathery Knowe are now a beacon school that we will be showcasing to other schools as an example of great practice.
Laura French, Deputy Head Teacher at Heathery Knowe Primary is emphatic about the benefits of this school improvement programme: “I can’t begin to tell you how delighted we are! Heathery Knowe … where every playtime is AMAZING!”
Marguerite Hunter Blair, CEO of Play Scotland said: “Heathery Knowe Primary’s success in achieving a prestigious OPAL Award is a huge cause for celebration in Scotland. I hope this will inspire and encourage other schools to explore the benefits of improving children’s play experiences at playtime. Children have a right to play, and Scotland’s Play Strategy calls for every child in Scotland to have access to quality everyday play experiences in learning environments.”
The difference OPAL makes
By changing the culture of play in a school and then developing the playground environment OPAL not only makes playtimes ‘amazing’ but has impacts in other measurable ways:
- Behaviour improves
- Accidents reduce
- Children settle faster and are ‘ready to learn’ earlier, squeezing more teaching time into the day
- Children develop social skills and learning things that ‘can’t be taught’
- Supervisory staff stop being ambulance drivers and police officers and become playworkers. They enjoy their work more too
- School leaders spend less time resolving difficult behaviours and can thus focus more on what is important
- The benefits can be experienced in a disproportionate way by ASN children.
Play Scotland is expanding our delivery of OPAL and is now delivering to 8 local authorities. Each school is unique and has a bespoke programme developed around their own needs and resources. To find out more about bringing OPAL to your school click here.
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