Play makes up 20% of children's primary school life. See how this OPAL school is making playtime a key part of their day.

Want to see an amazing OPAL playtime in action?

This event is for anyone interested in joining the OPAL Primary Programme and transforming the culture of play at their school. Come and see, first-hand, what an OPAL playground is like.

Agenda

*Current OPAL Schools - arrival time 11am

*New interest OPAL Schools - arrival time 11:45am

11am–11:15am Current OPAL schools arrive

11:15am–11:45am Calmore's OPAL journey

Hear from Calmore's staff about their OPAL journey.

11:45am–12:00pm New interest schools arrive (those not yet signed up to the programme)

12pm–1pm Playtime observation

Come and see an OPAL playtime in action – ask the children about how they manage risk and the grown-ups about the changes they have seen.

1pm–1:30pm Q&A

This session is open to both current OPAL schools and schools considering starting the OPAL Primary Programme. This is an opportunity to ask OPAL mentor Helen Easton and Calmore's play team questions about the school's OPAL journey.

About Calmore Infant School

Calmore is a two-form entry infant school in an urban area, with 165 children aged four to seven. It is a friendly and welcoming school, with a committed team working together to ensure that all children are happy, safe, well supported, and appropriately challenged.

At Calmore, staff believe that learning should be enjoyable, purposeful, and challenging for every pupil, enabling them to reach their full potential. Their aim is to equip each child with the skills needed to become independent and confident learners.

Calmore has outstanding play provision and achieved an OPAL Platinum Award in December 2025. The school offers a wide range of play opportunities, including a large, accessible loose parts shed, a big sandpit, water play, den building, music, wheeled play, dressing up, arts and crafts, and a dig pit, all spread across a mixed environment of hard standing and field space.

The play team is highly committed to continually improving their provision, led by a fantastic OPAL working group and supported by engaged parents and the local community. The level of purposeful engagement among all children at playtime is exceptional.

Additional information

Tea and coffee will be provided.

Please dress appropriately, we will be outside whatever the weather.

Only two tickets per schools please. If you can no longer come, please let us know so we can release your place to another school.

About the OPAL Primary Programme

The OPAL Primary Programme is an 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.

Find out more: www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk

Description supplied by the event organiser.