Under the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 31, play is a human right.  All state parties have a duty to ensure every child has access to play.

Research shows that children’s mental and physical health is getting worse and that great play can make it better. During seven years at primary school, children spend 1.4 years at play.

OPAL is an award-winning, mentor supported school improvement programme that addresses all the areas that schools must plan for if they want to strategically and sustainably improve the quality of their play opportunities. OPAL is the only programme of its kind that has been independently proven to sustainably improve the quality of play in British primary schools.

Its success comes from a series of interrelated actions undertaken with specialist support from an OPAL mentor. This embeds play into the school’s policies and practices and establishes clear guiding principles and strategies for initiating lasting changes at playtimes.

We know you want your children to be happier and healthier and to get the chances to play they want and need so much. OPAL schools also see these benefits.

• 80% drop in reported behaviour and first aid incidents
• 20% more afternoon teaching time
• Compliance with wellbeing inspection requirements
• Increased resilience, collaboration and inclusion