At St Francis, we believe play is a vital part of the way children learn and flourish, reflecting the joy and creativity at the heart of God’s world. 
Through play, our children develop curiosity, confidence and creativity while building friendships, resilience and a love of the outdoors. 
Rooted in our school vision — “Together in God’s love, we aspire to be our best” — we see play as a way for every child to grow in joy, faith and belonging. 

Our Play Values 

• Love and Respect – We play kindly, treating everyone and our environment with care and compassion. 

• Inclusion – Every child is valued and supported to join in play, regardless of age, ability or background. 

• Creativity – We celebrate imagination and provide space for open-ended, adventurous and inventive play. 

• Challenge and Resilience – We encourage children to take safe risks, explore new ideas and learn through trial and discovery. 

• Wellbeing – We recognise play as essential for happiness, health and emotional growth. 

• Stewardship – We care for God’s world by using our outdoor spaces responsibly and creatively. 

Research from the Education Endowment Fund, shows that children’s mental and physical health is getting worse and that great play can make it better. During seven years at primary school, children spend 1.4 years at play.

At St Francis C of E Primary School we have a plan to show to ensure that every child has at least one hour’s outstanding outdoor play every school day– with no exceptions. At St Francis C of E Primary School we believe that play teaches children all of the things that need to be learnt but cannot always be taught in the classroom. There are many benefits to children from having lots of rewarding and stimulating play, we firmly believe that EVERY CHILD has the right to play.

OPAL stands for Outside Play And Learning. The progamme is intended to bring about a transformative cultural change and so will not be completed overnight. Instead, it will be sustained over a two year period, as we want to get it right. It matters! This is why we have nominated OPAL governors, nominated OPAL staff and why ALL staff have been trained.

To find out more click the link to read about OPAL on the official website. We think it will give you a flavour of our vision for pupils at St Francis C of E Primary School. https://outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk/