Wednesday 6th October 2026
Dear parents,
We are about to launch our exciting new project to make our playtimes even better, in
conjunction with Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) CIC. In 2018, OPAL won the Best
Active Schools’ programme in Europe award and has been cited in two parliamentary
reports as delivering outstanding practice. OPAL is working closely with Sport England
to promote more active childhoods, which is one of the many reasons we are
improving our playtime, as well as to improve opportunities for socialisation,
cooperation, coordination, resilience, creativity, imagination and enjoyment for your
child.
We strongly believe that: “Play is freely chosen, personally directed, intrinsically
motivated behaviour that actively engages the child. Play can be fun or serious.
Through play, children explore social, material and imaginary worlds and their
relationship with them, elaborating a flexible range of responses to the
challenges they encounter. By playing, children learn and develop as
individuals, and as members of the community.” (Children’s Play Council 2001).
The project will start after half term on November 2nd 2026 and we hope it will
change the way we think and how we play together. To support this project, we will
need to buy new resources, move some things around on the playground, and add
some loose parts. Loose parts are any materials that can be easily moved, combined,
and incorporated into children’s free play. The items we are looking for and would be
gratefully received from our school community, which will enable us to enjoy a wider
range of play experiences during playtime are:
● Suitcases of any size and type
● Briefcases, especially hard-cased ones
● Buckets
● Keyboards/torches/laptops/calculators/mobile phones/desk
phones/webcams/cameras that are no longer working
● Fabric (large sheets/brightly coloured fabric)
● Foam sheets/bodyboards/camping roll mats/yoga mats
● Noodles (the type you use in the swimming pool!)
● Hats/scarves/jazzy shirts/elasticated skirts/waistcoats/wedding
dresses/character costumes
● Lego/Duplo
● Bubble mixture/bubble wands
● Chalk
● Cardboard of any size
● Craft materials (ribbon, pom poms, coloured card, glitter, stickers, pipe
cleaners, buttons etc)
● Loom bands
● Beads and threading
● Paint rollers/large paint brushes
● Wallpaper
● Animal figures
● Cars/vehicles
● Play dough
● Clipboards and stationery
● Stickle bricks
● Fidget toys
● Trains and track
● Blankets and cushions
We will gratefully receive these items from Wednesday 7th October. The sooner we do
this, the sooner the children can play with the items!
Alternatively, if you are unable to donate any of the items above, but you would still like
to support our collection, a voluntary cash donation of £5 would be greatly appreciated.
We will use any money donated to purchase much-needed items for OPAL.
More information will follow at a parent’s session later in the year, when you will be
invited to come and play with your children. We are really excited about this project
and hope that you will support us in our efforts to improve playtimes for all children.
Yours sincerely
Mrs S Peters
Mrs E Birad
Mrs C Devers
OPAL Play Team