LITTLETOWN Primary Academy has successfully been awarded the Platinum OPAL award for their “outstanding” outdoor play and learning.

OPAL was established as an independent not-for-profit community interest company. Their goal is to ensure that every child should have access to outstanding play opportunities and learning every school day of their lives.

The OPAL Primary Programme is a mentor-supported school improvement programme addressing all 18 areas a school must plan for if they want to sustainably improve the overall quality of play and learning.

A spokesperson for Littletown School said: “The OPAL Primary Award Programme is the only one of its kind. We became aware of the programme through a conference and our own research.”

Local MP Richard Foord joined the staff and children in their whole school assembly last week to present the certificate and banner to the school’s year five OPAL play leaders.

Richard Foord MP said: “It is well known that school budgets are under pressure and that teachers are increasingly having to squeeze an ever-more prescribed curriculum into their teaching. Hence, I was impressed on my visit by the work of Littletown Primary Academy in securing an OPAL Platinum Award - and making time for creativity and outdoor learning. The children demonstrated considerable curiosity and asked some great questions.”

At the assembly Kate Smith, OPAL mentor, announced to the children that there are only a few schools in the country who have been awarded the "prestigious" platinum status.

Littletown's OPAL lead Susie Davis said: "We started our OPAL journey only two years ago with the ambition to improve our lunchtime playtimes for all of our pupils, we are so thrilled to have achieved this award and see the children enjoy imaginative and adventurous playtimes."