OPAL at Heath Mount
Amazing play, everyday, for every child
Research has shown that children spend 20% of their time in school playing. To ensure that this time and our amazing school grounds are used to their full potential each and every day, our school has adopted an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) philosophy that allows the children freedom to explore play in their own imaginative ways using the wide range of resources available to them and the natural environment.
Our OPAL journey began this academic year, in Autumn 2024, and since this time, we have quickly transformed our outdoor environment. Our children love the new outdoor opportunities that OPAL offers and there is so much more for them to do, no matter the weather! From playing with tyres and boats and using and crates and pallets, to building incredible structures around the grounds, to den building, cooking up a storm in the messy cafe or mud kitchen or to enjoying imaginative play in the small world area, keeping fit on the trim track or climbing the climbing domes and fort, OPAL offers an exciting alternative to the standard playground activities and there is something for everyone to enjoy every day of the week! Our OPAL approach at Heath Mount promotes an inclusive play environment in which all children can express themselves, get creative, risk assess and develop resilience! Through this approach to play, children are not only more active at lunch times, they also have the opportunity to further develop life skills such as co-operation and collaboration, team work and problem solving. They are highly motivated and enthusiastic builders, engineers, explorers and designers