We believe that opportunity for inclusive, creative play is a crucial element of our Curriculum. Play is the natural way to learn. Its benefits include:

• Social and Emotional Development: Play involves learning about collaborating, compromising, communicating, competing well, resolving disputes and caring for friends. It is a key way in which children develop self-regulation.
• Well-being: Great play is enormously absorbing and fun.
• Learning: Play is a laboratory of life, in which children practice and explore the wider world. They embed learning, develop understanding and discover personal interests, talents and identities.
• Creativity: Play is an intrinsically creative activity, which stretches learners’ imaginations. 
• Rights: Play is a right under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We have been working with the organisation OPAL Play to improve the quality of play across our schools. We aim to ensure that lunchtimes involve vibrant and happy learning through play for all our pupils. Our play policy can be found here.