Over the past two years, we have been working in partnership with a fantastic organisation called OPAL – Outdoor Play and Learning. With the support of experienced OPAL mentors, our staff have been developing a rich and engaging play curriculum that ensures every playtime is positive, enjoyable, and meaningful for all our children.

OPAL’s vision is clear: that every child in every school should enjoy at least an hour of high-quality play every day – no exceptions! Our children have been at the heart of this journey, enthusiastically embracing the improvements and shaping the way playtimes look and feel at Seaburn Dene.

This whole-school project has been passionately led by Mrs Tough and Mrs Smith, whose dedication has driven the transformation in how we approach play. Today, we are incredibly proud to share that following our final assessment…

Seaburn Dene Primary School has achieved the OPAL GOLD Award!
This places us in the top 4% of schools nationally for the quality of our play offer. The award recognises our commitment to every aspect of play – including policy, planning, resources, staff training and continuous improvement – and our dedication to children’s right to play, as outlined in Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

"The school has demonstrated that it takes the UNCRC Article 31, on the child's right to play, seriously and is implementing all stages of school improvement in relation to play, including policy, planning, resourcing, staffing and evaluation."
Michael Follett BA Hons Ed, PGCE – OPAL Founder and Director

This is a fantastic achievement for our whole school community and something we are immensely proud of. In the coming weeks, we will be holding a special presentation assembly led by our OPAL mentor to officially receive our Gold Quality Mark.

While this marks a major milestone, our OPAL journey doesn’t end here. There is always more we can do to enhance our play provision, and we welcome your support. If you are able to donate any play items – from small world figures to outdoor role play equipment – please drop them off at the school office.

We’re sure you’ll join us in celebrating this brilliant achievement for Seaburn Dene – a GOLD award for GOLD-standard play!