Fairlight Primary and Nursery School
OPAL: OUTDOOR PLAY AND LEARNING
WE ARE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!!! OFFICIAL
Under the UN 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.
Play is hugely important at Fairlight Primary and Nursery School. We understand that it is a key way in which children learn. And at this time when Well Being, Mental Health and physical health is such high profile we recognize that play is key to supporting this as it means children are happier and healthier and also play develops resilience, collaboration and inclusion.
Opal is an Nationally recognised and 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. Currently 32,770 schools in the UK participate as well as schools from other parts of the world including Canada, America, Malaysia, Spain and many more.
Fairlight Primary and Nursery School is one of just a handful of schools who have achieved the Platinum Award on several occasions and as a result of this has been invited to be part of the OPAL College. We are also one of only 5 schools worldwide to be awarded the Honours Award. This means we will continue to support other schools locally and nationally by hosting training sessions and sharing advice and support. We will also continue to develop and improve our play at Fairlight.
In March 2024 Fairlight Primary and Nursery accepted their most recent Award at the Houses of Parliament in Westminister and Headteacher Damien Jordan spoke to a group of assembled Ministers, Lords and advisors around the importance and the need for Play to be given a higher profile in schools at the launch of the cross party paper on Play for All.
https://www.paperturn-view.com/?pid=ODg8806774&p=59&mc_cid=cccd12e50a&mc_eid=06b2d9ad2b
OPAL PLAY CONFERENCE 2021
Mr Jordan proudly represented Fairlight at the Opal Play Conference 2021.
He shared with over 1000 people from around the world (Miss Stewart and Miss Joller say hi to all there Canadian teacher friends) that amazing play that we do here at Fairlight.
His speech was about the impact that Opal has had on our play and also on the process that we have been through over the last few years to improve the play and playtime experience.
As a OPAL Platinum School it was good to share with others the journey but also some of the key learning points.
This is Mr Jordan's Presentation.
A picture to represent his thoughts and what he wanted to share.
PLAY LINKS
Useful websites and social media sites providing lots of information and fun ideas around physical activity and play for children.
Websites:
Review and link to an inspirational TED Talk on play by Stuart Brown(Founder of the Institute of Play): https://medium.com/@LittleSeeds/ted-talk-review-stuart-browns-play-is-more-than-just-fun-dcf48babb382
https://www.encourageplay.com/connect-through-play
https://chatterpack.net/blogs/blog/resources-list-for-home-learning
Play Scotland - https://www.playscotland.org
Youth Sport Trust - https://www.youthsporttrust.org
Scouting Association - https://www.scouts.org.uk
Play Wales (Playful childhoods) - https://www.playfulchildhoods.wales
Cbeebies - https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies (a variety of games, activities and resources to keep children learning at home).
Zoo webcams https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/g31784857/live-animal-webcam-zoo/ -
Indoor activities - https://www.nhs.uk/chage4life/activities/indoor-activities
Live shows, outdoor expeditions, Deadly 60. http://www.stevebackshall.com/
Website has lots of fun activities for kids that are reasonably easy to organise and fun https://www.familydaystriedandtested.com
Interactive learning through songs, art, videos and games. https://www.sesamestreet.org
Music, exercise and activity
PE with Joe https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyCLoPd4VxBvQafyve889qVcPxYEjdSTl
Go Noodle (lots of songs with actions to keep fit) https://family.gonoodle.com/
BBC Super Movers https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers
Cosmic Yoga https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
Learn to dance with Oti Mabuse every day at 11.00 and at any time
https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-03-25/oti-mabuses-dance-lessons-for-kids-how-to-watch/
Face Book - sites with some fun ideas
- Uk Kidswindows
- London Play
- Inspire my play
- Chester Zoo Live
- Play Scotland
- Bristol Library – 2pm story everyday
- Children’s Scrap Store Bristol
- Play England
- The Power of Play
- We believe in outdoor play
- 5 Minute Crafts
- Learning and exploring through play
- Early Years Scotland
- Planning Playtime – Learning through Play