Opal Outdoor Play And Learning Cic

The Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme

OPAL CIC is a multi-award-winning, not-for-profit organisation based in the UK and South East Asia, dedicated to improving the quality of play opportunities for primary school children. OPAL's aim is that every child should have amazing play opportunities every day without exceptions. Thus far, Opal has worked with over 1300 schools and has impacted 1.5 million children through qualitative play on a daily basis.

OPAL is inspired by Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child—the right to play—and the skills, knowledge, and practice of the UK's playwork sector. OPAL's work draws on extensive research demonstrating that while play is essential for the healthy development of all aspects of children's well-being and development, play opportunities have drastically reduced or even disappeared from childhood in most industrialised countries.

Improving play in schools has instrumental benefits to the school, including fewer behavioral problems, increased teaching and leadership time, improved focus after playtime and intrinsic benefits to the children, including increased happiness, greater activity, and improvements in social, creative, and collaborative skills. The introduction of OPAL at St Christopher's International School, Penang, has confirmed all of these benefits, and many more are applicable in schools across South East Asia.

Contact: Nicola Owen
OPAL Mentor South East Asia & Middle East
nicolaowen@opalcic.org
+60175431109

Website: www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk