OPAL [Outdoor Play and Learning]
At Ridgeway Infant School we believe that all children and young people have the right to good quality play that makes lunch times really memorable. Playing outdoors enhances learning and is FUNdamental for children and young people to thrive, be creative, develop their imagination and generally have a great time at school. With the rise of technology and screen time in children's lives, we recognise childhoods have changed but children haven't. We feel passionately about providing children with great play; making mud pies, building dens, play fighting with foam swords, dancing to music and foam and water play to name but a few.
To enhance our play provision at lunchtime, children all have access to OPAL! Children will have access to lots of areas of our extensive grounds, in all weathers and in turn, have a wealth of play opportunities through a wide range of play equipment, small and large loose parts and much, much more! After being on the journey since Sept 2023, we are pleased to announce that in November 2024, we were accredited with the OPAL Gold Award!
To ensure that future developments continue to be made, our OPAL Working Group meet regularly to discuss new and exciting additions. Please see below the members of our OPAL Working Group:
The Play Team [formally known as Midday Supervisors] will be providing ranging supervision on the playground during OPAL play and be carrying out dynamic risk assessments whilst observing many different play types in action.
During our whole-school Weekly Play Assemblies, Mrs Harford-Smyth celebrates AMAZING play that has been captured over the week. Together, we then carry out a Risk Assessment on any new loose parts, equipment or toys that are being added to our OPAL Play. We then end our assembly by thinking about how we can use any particular loose parts/equipment or toys different to enhance our play even further. Our Play Assemblies are always shared on Class Dojo and Reach More Parents so I hope you enjoy watching them!
Please keep a look out on our display board on the end of the terrapin building for regular updates and requests for different equipment/loose parts. For more information or if you have any questions, please get in touch with Mrs K Harford-Smyth at kharford-smyth@ridgeway.derby.sch.uk
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