Oracy Project and OPAL (Outdoor Play And Learning)
Torridon Primary School is part of the pilot Oracy Project in Lewisham to support all pupils to overcome communication barriers, which then affect life chances. We are proud to be part of the Talk Matters Oracy Project.
Children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) are at a higher risk of behavioural problems, poor mental health and poorer outcomes later in life:
- 81 per cent of children with behavioural disorders have unidentified speech, language and communication needs.
- Children with vocabulary difficulties at age 5 are twice as likely to be unemployed in adulthood
- 60 per cent of young offenders have low language skills
In 2023, the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) launched the Talk Matters programme, which supports speech, language and communication needs in primary school pupils.
The aim is to identify learning gaps for children with speech and language needs early, to ensure they get early and effective support.
It will form a key part of the VRU’s overarching policy work to champion and invest in inclusive practices in schools through London’s Inclusion Charter.
Talk Matters – Oracy Project Information
As part of the project, we have invested in OPAL to promote speaking and listening in our playground.
Article 31 of the UNCRC (the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) says that children and young people have the right to have fun in the way they want to, whether by playing sports, watching films, or doing something else entirely.
Amazing play, every day, for every child
Torridon Primary is delighted to be working with OPAL to transform our outdoor play experience.
What is OPAL?
Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) is a community interest company (CIC) dedicated to providing services to schools and organisations in England and Wales to improve the quality of play opportunities for all children. OPAL staff have expertise in teaching, school improvement, landscape design, project management, play and strategic planning.
The OPAL Primary Programme offers schools a structured process, with mentored support, provided for up to two years and many resources, to enable schools to permanently change both their environment and their culture to enable provision of amazing playtimes every day. Learning through play is vital for each student at Torridon Primary as play equates to 20% (1.4 years) of a child’s time in school.
In 2018, OPAL won first prize in an EU funded award for the best active school’s programme in Europe.
One reason we are carrying out this programme is that childhood has changed and many children no longer get their play needs met out of school.
- Average screen time per day 5 hours
- Average outdoor play time per week 5 hours
- Percentage of UK children who only play outdoors with other children at school 56%
There are a number of benefits for schools which carry out the OPAL Programme. This includes: more enjoyment of school, less teaching time lost to disputes between children, less accidents in the playground and improved behaviour.
As we embark on this journey to make improvements to play opportunities for your children, we are asking for any unwanted items you may have at home in order to create a creative learning space. Your children may get a bit messier, be exposed to more challenges and have greater freedoms to play where, with whom and how they like. This means they will need suitable clothing such as coats, wellington boots, hats and gloves. The experiences we are developing are essential for children’s physical and mental well-being and development.
If you would like to learn all about OPAL and watch several videos about the programme please visit the OPAL website
OPAL 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. OPAL is the only programme of its kind that has been independently proven to sustainably improve the quality of play in British primary schools.