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St Nicolas CE Primary Academy have  launched the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme and we are already seeing the positive impact it’s having on our children’s playtimes. Over the coming year, we will be continuing to introduce a range of new resources to support varied, imaginative and active play for all our pupils.

Research shows that high-quality play supports physical health, social skills, cooperation, creativity, resilience and overall enjoyment. Our goal is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to enjoy at least one hour of meaningful, high-quality play each day.

To date we have introduced a wheels zone, active zone, a sand pit, mud kitchen plus creative and construction areas. The next phase of OPAL will be den building and large loose parts play to enhance our children’s creativity, problem solving, spatial awareness and team working skills.

 For these we are looking more to business and work places particularly contacts in the construction industry, that can provide large pieces of equipment such as:

• Guttering                      
• Plastic piping and tubing
• Plastic milk crates/supermarket delivery crates/plastic bread trays
• Cable drums – of all sizes
• Road signs
• Large packing cardboard boxes
• Tubes inside carpet rolls
• Dolly trollies
• Grit bins
• Plastic drums
• Tuff spot mixing trays
• Logs
• Wood chippings

Our ultimate dream piece of equipment would be a bus or train carriage!!

In addition, we are looking for local business who would be willing to sponsor dry robes for our amazing Play Rangers