OPAL Kent & SE Regional Workshop: Hernhill CofE Primary School, Kent

Come and join our family of OPAL schools at this Kent & the South East regional network meeting.

Whether you are just starting out or are an established OPAL school, this afternoon session will bring inspiration, ideas and the chance to network with like-minded local schools.

See playtime at this platinum OPAL school, chat to the head, curricular lead and play coordinator, and have a focussed hour of training you can take back to use with your playteam and shape your next steps.

1 2pm-1pm Observation of playtime

Come 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 Refreshments

Tea and coffee will be provided; please bring your lunch.

1:15pm-1:30pm Welcome

Welcome from headteacher Sarah Alexander and Curricular Lead Kerry Thompson, with a Q&A session.

Followed by a UK & SE OPAL update from OPAL Mentor Gráinne Pickles

1:30pm-2:30pm OPAL workshops

Two or three of these topics, depending on attendees and numbers (please indicate preference when booking)

1. Outdoor play year-round
2. Sourcing, sustaining, maintaining and getting rid of loose parts
3. Managing our play teams
4. RAPID – safe enough for children and staff to dynamically manage their challenging and fun environments
5. Extending playwork - embedding a playwork curriculum
6. SEND in mainstream playgrounds

2:30pm Q&A & Evaluation

2:45pm Close

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

Please note this event is for current OPAL schools.

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

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.

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.

Host or Publisher OPAL Outdoor Play and Learning CIC