North winter regional meeting

Come and join the ever-expanding network of OPAL North schools at this regional winter meeting, held at an OPAL Platinum school. Whether you are just starting out or are an established OPAL school, this session will bring inspiration, ideas, and the chance to network with like-minded schools from across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

11:45am–11:55am Arrive and sign in

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–1:30pm Welcome

Welcome from OPAL North, followed by Grimes Dyke's staff sharing their OPAL journey.

1:30pm–3:30pm OPAL networking

There will be themed networking opportunities, an opportunity to share best practice and ideas, and a chance to see showcases of great play from all schools.

3:30pm Closing reflections and feedback

Grimes Dyke Primary School is situated on the edge of Leeds and serves an area of deprivation, with the majority of its children entitled to free school meals. The school began its OPAL journey in 2022 and achieved an OPAL Platinum Award in September 2024. They are fortunate to have extensive green space, including their own small woodland. Since 2020, the school has been rewilding its site for biodiversity, with large expanses of long meadow grass and shorter mowed paths that children love to follow. As a result of this approach, the children are very connected with and knowledgeable about nature.

The school has implemented an active uniform policy since 2021, which allows children to be active all day and take managed risks in their play the children themselves write the risk assessments for new play opportunities! Grimes Dyke is proud of the relationships it has built with families and the community, who love to come and play too. The school recently received an OPAL Ambassador Award for being at the forefront of the Active Uniform Alliance's Made to Move campaign and for being a longstanding advocate of play, both among existing OPAL schools and those considering joining the community.

Come and see what sets this school apart, and observe their amazing all-weather play opportunities followed by the much loved chance to network with other OPAL schools across the North.

There will be refreshments, but please bring a packed lunch and arrive in time to find a parking spot on the main and adjacent roads.

Only two tickets per school. If you can no longer come, please let us know so we can release your place to another school.

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Host or Publisher OPAL Outdoor Play and Learning CIC