OPAL showcase: Hernhill CofE Primary School, Kent

See for yourself what an amazing playtime looks like at Hernhill C of E Primary School, a one-form entry church school in Kent with a field – and two platinum awards!

Are you thinking about starting the OPAL programme at your school?

Join us and be inspired by observing one of the best school playtimes in the country. Here, kids get muddy, build dens, take risks, explore, experiment, and achieve every single day!

School improvement for outstanding playtimes

The OPAL Primary Programme supports schools in developing key areas related to policy, planning, risk management, staffing, design, grounds development, resources, and playwork training.

Agenda

11:45am–12pm Welcome from headteacher and OPAL South East

12pm–1pm Observation of playtime

Come and see a platinum OPAL playtime in action – ask the children about how they manage risk and the grown-ups about the changes they have seen.

1pm–1:15pm Next steps, evaluation and close

Please note this event is for schools considering starting the OPAL programme only, not current OPAL schools. If you are currently doing OPAL, please look at the Current OPAL schools collection.

Times are subject to alterations of up to 30 minutes. In the week before the event, attendees will receive an email confirming times.

Additional information

The car park outside the school usually has plenty of spaces, and it is a 10 minute taxi ride from Faversham station. Tea and coffee will be available.

We keep numbers small so sign up soon. Please let us know if you can no longer come so we can release your place to another school.

Please dress appropriately – we will be outside whatever the weather.

About Hernhill C of E Primary School

Hernhill C of E Primary School is a 200-pupil church school in a rural area just outside Faversham. They started their OPAL journey in the summer of 2021 and achieved their first platinum award in the summer of 2022, and their second in summer 2024.

Their play offer is outstanding, ensuring every child has a fantastic playtime every single day – see the video above for more inspiration!

The school has a large loose parts shed, a fast-growing museum showing off the archaeological discoveries of the children from the large digging areas, a huge sandpit and plentiful water play, den building and a cave dug out by the children! The strong play team is very committed to continually improving their play offer, led by a fantastic OPAL working group – and helped by their very supportive parents and local community.

They are an outstanding school in every way.

About the OPAL Primary Programme

The OPAL Primary Programme is an award-winning mentor supported school improvement programme that addresses all the areas that schools must plan for if they want to strategically and sustainably improve the quality of their play opportunities.

Find out more: www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk