At St Thomas of Canterbury Primary School, pupils have access to the whole play space and are free to choose from a wide variety of equipment and activities, including wheeled toys, guttering and tubes, mud kitchen, dressing up, colouring, small world and traditional games like football and tennis.   They have various zones that the children can use as they wish – Squirrels Hide, Badgers Seek, Astroturf area, Main playground, and Field area. The equipment we have to offer encourages the children to think imaginatively and problem solve together when required.  They can continue with the educational learning at playtime as well through the provision of writing and mark making equipment, alongside books to enjoy quietly.  Children will be able to express themselves as they want to, with adults only stepping in to supervise or encourage when required.

There will be weekly OPAL assemblies where we will celebrate things that are going well, inform the children about new equipment that may become accessible, negotiate areas of concern that have become apparent over the week and innovate listening to where the children are taking their play and making decisions about provision that needs to be made to support this direction.

The important part of implementing the OPAL approach is that is it is promoting our value of teamwork.  With adults and children at Lapford Primary School working together to make play safe, fun and fair whilst becoming responsible members of the school community.