Ratcliffe Preparatory School has partnered with OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning)

We are thrilled to announce that Ratcliffe Preparatory School has partnered with OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning), a pioneering program dedicated to enriching children’s play experiences through meaningful, creative, and playful outdoor learning opportunities.

OPAL’s approach to play is about much more than fun; it is a carefully crafted vision that supports children learning life skills during play. Children can explore, experiment, and grow in a way that builds confidence and strengthens their ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

In the Prep School, Key Stage 1 and 2 children now play together and in both Nursery and Prep, skills such as teamwork, resilience, and individuality are already beginning to blossom on the playground.

The 18-Month Plan

To kickstart this transformative journey, during Autumn Term 2024 we had a soft launch, introducing dress up, scooters, small loose parts, water play, construction, and music. These are some of the skills that are developed in these areas:

• Water Play: Encouraging sensory exploration and teamwork.
• Dress-Up Stations: Stimulating creativity, imagination, resourcefulness and storytelling.
• LEGO Building Area: Promoting problem-solving, maths and design skills alongside excellent speaking and listening opportunities.
• Chalk and Writing Play Areas: Allowing for artistic expression and creating a calm quieter area.

By Summer Term 2026, Ratcliffe College aims to have fully transformed its outdoor spaces into an OPAL-certified playground. Guided by OPAL’s expertise, the College will develop a play environment that maximises learning potential while ensuring inclusivity, safety, and, most importantly, joy!

“We are delighted to have introduced OPAL to the Prep School children. They are embracing the new opportunities and share with us their excitement. It has been a real delight to see Year 6 children supporting the younger children in their play, as well as genuine creativity in areas such as water play. Children are being supported and given new opportunities to develop physically, socially and emotionally on the playground as well as being guided to consider risk in their play, which will develop valuable skills for their future lives.”

Mrs M Markham, Deputy Head of Preparatory School.

“We are incredibly excited about this initiative and have already seen a difference in children’s engagement in ‘real play’. It is such a joy to see children more involved in a variety of different activities and the learning that takes place as they work out how to create ball runs with drain pipes or working as a team to build a den together. We are very much looking forward to introducing more loose parts to the playground over the Summer term and in our grand plan we also have a GIANT walk-in sandpit!”

Mrs R Ravat, Head of Early Years.

The Concept of “Loose Parts”

A cornerstone of the OPAL philosophy is the use of “loose parts” in play. Far from being junk, these items are versatile materials that children can manipulate, move, and combine in endless ways to create their own imaginative worlds.

How You Can Help – Dressing Up Donations Welcome

We will be in further communication with regards to specific items that you can help donate, however, in the meantime if anyone has any dressing up that they would like to donate please email Mrs Ravat or Mrs Markham. This can include skirts / jackets / waistcoats/handbags/headbands/hats. They don’t need to be ‘costumes’. We don’t want any donations of shoes, but other than that anything that will inspire creativity and play!