What is OPAL?

Research has shown that children spend 20% of their time in school playing. To ensure that this time and our school grounds are used to their full potential, our school has adopted an OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) philosophy that allows the children freedom to explore play in their own imaginative ways, often using found and gathered resources in the natural outdoor environment. 

An OPAL approach promotes a more inclusive play environment in which all children can feel comfortable to express themselves. Our OPAL journey began in March 2026 where we started planning and building up our resources and expertise to transform play at Moorlands.  

Through this approach to play, children are not only encouraged to be more active, but they are also having the opportunity to further develop life skills such as cooperation, teamwork and problem solving: they are becoming motivated and enthusiastic builders, engineers, explorers and designers. 

We are just at the start of our journey, but we know the positive impact this will have on our children and will work alongside what the children want to make this a rich, outdoor play and learning environment.

Early OPAL stages already in action:

Look out for new developments

Thank you for the support from local businesses