Our Approach to OPAL Play at Heymann
At Heymann, we believe play is an essential part of every child’s development. Since launching the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Programme in April 2024, our playtimes have transformed—and we’ve already seen incredible benefits.
The OPAL vision is simple: every child should enjoy high-quality, meaningful play every day. As a school, we’re proud to be working in partnership with OPAL to make this a reality. Our school grounds now support exciting, diverse play experiences in all weathers, with new zones and equipment offering something for every interest and age group.
Why OPAL?
Play is vital to children’s health, happiness, and learning. Research shows children spend up to 20% of their school time playing, and the quality of this time matters. As OPAL explains:
“…Better, more active and creative playtimes can mean happier and healthier children… resulting in a more positive attitude to learning, fewer behavioural issues, and happier staff.”
OPAL play has transformed our playtimes into rich, engaging experiences that support children’s physical, social, and emotional development. By offering a wide variety of play opportunities, children are more active, creative, and collaborative. We’ve seen improved behaviour, stronger friendships, and greater resilience. These positive changes extend into the classroom too—children return from play more focused, settled, and ready to learn.