OPAL North regional meeting: Sutton Park Primary School

OPAL supports schools to develop a culture where play is valued, embedded and enables children to have amazing playtimes every single day.
About this Event

Are you currently on your OPAL journey?

Come and join the ever-expanding network of OPAL North schools at this regional meeting, held at an OPAL platinum school in Hull. Whether you are just starting out or are a more established OPAL school, this session will bring inspiration, ideas, and the chance to see great play. You will also have the opportunity to network with like-minded schools from across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Agenda

10am–10:10am Arrive and sign in

10:10am–10:30am Welcome

Welcome from the OPAL North mentors and the OPAL team at Sutton Park Primary School.

10:30am–12pm Networking

An opportunity to network with other OPAL schools, with a Q&A.

12pm–1pm Observation of playtime

Come and see an 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 Closing reflections and feedback

About Sutton Park Primary School

Sutton Park Primary School is situated in north Hull, on a large council estate from which many of its children come. Since beginning its OPAL journey in October 2023, the school has transformed play and achieved an OPAL Platinum Award in October 2025.

Its expansive site includes three playgrounds, a large field, a stone sensory garden and a woodland area known to the children as The Willows. With creativity and determination, the school has embraced a “reuse and repurpose” approach, turning everyday materials into exciting play opportunities, thanks to its amazing staff, families and wider community.

"We’ve learned that inspiring play doesn’t require a big budget – just big ideas."

Regular “Stay and Play” events invite parents to experience this transformation first-hand, building dens, climbing trees, exploring the sandpit and rediscovering the joy of outdoor play alongside their children.

Since introducing OPAL, playtimes have been completely transformed. Children now mix freely across year groups, take an active role in shaping their play environment and benefit from a noticeable reduction in accidents, alongside significant improvements in behaviour. OPAL has truly changed the culture of play at Sutton Park.

Additional information

Please car share wherever possible.

Please let us know about any allergies and dietary requirements as there will be some light refreshments available.

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