Bannerman Road Community Academy, part of Venturers Trust in Bristol, welcomed Thangam Debbonaire, MP for Bristol West and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, to present the school with a Platinum Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Award on Friday 21 October.
OPAL CIC is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to making sure that every child in every primary school has a fantastic playtime every day. Staff at the primary school in inner-city Easton worked with OPAL over a period of three years to put in place the policies, staffing, resources and environment to provide a fun and fully inclusive playtime for every child.
Ms Debbonaire spent time speaking to the staff and children and presented them with their platinum award, the highest level of recognition from OPAL.
“It was an honour to present staff and lunchtime leaders at Bannerman Road Community Academy with the OPAL Platinum Award for their play provision,” she said. “Through their efforts, pupils are improving on their creativity and collaborative skills as well as their mental wellbeing, while having lots of fun. I would also like to thank the staff for all their hard work in supporting and guiding any parent struggling during the current cost of living crisis.”
Oliver Laken, Acting Head at the primary school, which has also just improved to a ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted, added, “This child-led approach to play has ensured that our children develop softer skills and we have found they are more engaged in lessons as a result. Children are learning about risk and we now have the older ones helping the younger ones, so there is a real community feel; it really lets the children be children.
“Anna Hicks, Family Support Worker, has been influential in embedding the OPAL principles in the school, along with the support of all our staff.”
OPAL was founded by former teacher, playworker and school improvement officer Michael Follett in 2011. It now has a network of 24 specialist mentors supporting hundreds of schools across the UK to improve their playtimes.
Michael said, “I am very impressed with what Bannerman Road Community Academy has achieved. Play takes up 1.4 years of a child’s life at primary school and many schools struggle to make it fulfilling and enjoyable. Working with OPAL’s guidance and support, this school has succeeded in making every playtime a wonderful, happy and fulfilling experience for all of its pupils
“The benefits that Bannerman Road Community Academy have seen from having such great playtimes are very similar to what we have seen in other schools; a considerable drop in first aid incidents, at least ten minutes more teaching time per teacher per day and a much happier, more inclusive playground.”