Sonning Common Primary school is running a programme to improve opportunities for physical activity, socialisation, cooperation, coordination, resilience, creativity, imagination and enjoyment through improved play.

Children today don’t have the same freedoms we once did, so we want to give children back time to really enjoy and learn from play.  After all, it’s a child’s basic human right.  Research shows on average children spend 6 hours per day on screens and only 5 hours per week in social outdoor play.

The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPaL) Primary Programme is the result of over 20 years of testing and development in over 2000 schools and is based on the idea that, as well as learning through good teaching, children also learn when they play.  As 20% of their time in primary school is playtime, we want to make sure that this is well used time.  Schools with better quality outdoor play see fewer disputes between children and improved behaviour and children report that they are happier.  Parents and staff who work with children often have concerns when children are engaged in what could be described as ‘risky play’. Adults are programmed to try and stop anything which poses any kind of risk to children. However research has shown that this is not preparing our children to make their own risk assessments and overcome problems and challenges. The HSE agrees with this, stating that play which carries some risk is not only allowed but should be actively encouraged. Children, by law, have the right to play.   You can read the HSE report on why risky play should happen in schools here :HSE balanced approach to childrens play

We already have lots of outdoor space at SCPS and in the coming months we will share with you how we are developing outdoor play and learning at SCPS.

2026-27 Updates Term 1

Each class has been given an OPAL Bingo board. The aim is to try and bring in as many of the items on the board as possible that will then be used at lunchtimes as part of improving our play. The prizes for being the first class to get a line and then, later, a full house will be bonus Opal time!

As an eco-friendly school, we are conscious that we want to try to avoid buying items brand new wherever possible so we are simply asking you to donate any of these items if you already have them and no longer need them.

Thank you in advance

You can find out more about what we are doing by visiting the OPaL website.