{"id":46,"date":"2024-11-21T08:47:34","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T08:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk\/?page_id=46"},"modified":"2025-07-27T14:00:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T14:00:18","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dev.webwisehosting.co.uk\/opal\/about-us\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

The OPAL programme is
\nthe result of twenty years
\nof action-research and
\nadventure<\/em><\/h2>\n\t

2000-2005<\/p>\n\t

From 2000-2005 Michael worked as strategic play officer for Bath and North East Somerset Council. During this time, he often received requests for help in improving schools’ playtimes and developed a course to train lunchtime supervisors and give advice about school grounds.<\/p>\n\t

2005-2011<\/p>\n\t

Between 2005-2011, Michael worked in South Gloucestershire Council’s beacon school improvement service as well as leading the council’s strategic play policy implementation. The emerging programme combined the best of a structured approach to school improvement, play theory, and a trial-and-error approach of working with ambitious and innovative school leaders.<\/p>\n

In response to the disbanding of school improvement services in 2011, OPAL was established as an independent not-for-profit community interest company with all the rights legally transferred from South Gloucestershire Council.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\"Rectangle\n\t

2011 ~<\/p>\n\t

Since 2011, demand for OPAL’s insights and services to improve free play opportunities for all children in schools has steadily grown. OPAL was joined by Neil Coleman, then Ingrid Wilkinson, Kurti Birkenbeil, and a steadily growing team of experts in the fields of play and school improvement.<\/p>\n\t

2019<\/p>\n\t

In 2019, in recognition of the valuable national contribution the programme was making to the wellbeing and activity of children, OPAL was awarded a \u00a3250,000 by Sport England. The goal of the funding was to further improve the reach and quality of the programme and resources for schools.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\"Rectangle\n\t

2025<\/p>\n\t

OPAL features strongly in the Play Commission’s State of Play<\/em> report.\u00a0Recommendations in the report include that every school should have a plan for play and a designated strategic leader of play.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\"image\n\t

What we have learnt from all of our work is that the need to play and the fundamentals of what makes a good play environment are universal, but the ability of any organisation to provide for the needs of children depends on their values and priorities, combined with their willingness and capacity to change.<\/h4>\n

We hope that you will become part of this story and work with us to realise this vision.<\/p>\n\t

Michael Follett<\/h4>\n

OPAL Founder<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\"red-curve-w-beige\"\n\t

Our goal is that\u00a0–\u00a0regardless of gender, race, ability or location – every child should have access to amazing play opportunities every school day of their lives.<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\"story-img-red-curve\"\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The OPAL programme is the result of twenty years of action-research and adventure 2000-2005 From 2000-2005 Michael worked as strategic play officer for Bath and North East Somerset Council. 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