OPAL

At Lyme Community Primary School, we recognise that play is a fundamental part of childhood and a vital route to learning, wellbeing and development. Children spend a significant proportion of their school life at play, and this time is valued, protected and carefully planned.

As a GOLD Rights-Respecting School we recognise:

· Article 31 – the right to rest, leisure and play

· Article 12 – the right for children’s views to be heard

Children’s voices are central to the development, review and improvement of play at Lyme. From September 2026 we have moved to an active school uniform to give the children the freedom to feel comfortable as they play. https://activeuniform.org/active-uniforms/

Our Vision
To create a school where every child has the time, space, freedom and confidence to play, enabling them to develop independence, creativity, resilience and positive relationships.

Our Mission
Through our OPAL approach, we aim to improve children's play times giving them the opportunities to develop:

· Physical health, strength, balance and coordination

· Emotional regulation, resilience and wellbeing

· Social skills such as cooperation, negotiation and empathy

· Creativity, imagination and curiosity

· Confidence, independence and leadership

· Language, communication and problem-solving skills

· Cognitive flexibility, concentration and memory

Our Long Term plan