Name: New interest schools: OPAL school visit – Holy Cross Catholic Primary
Start: 2026-02-26T11:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-26T13:00:00+00:00
Location: Holy Cross Catholic Primary School

$New interest schools: OPAL school visit \u2013 Holy Cross Catholic Primary$

Play makes up 20% of children's primary school life. See how this OPAL school is making playtime a key part of their day.
About this Event

Play makes up 20% of children's primary school life. How do schools plan for this 20%? What are the roles of the play team?

A great opportunity for anyone interested in joining the OPAL Primary Programme and wanting to learn more about it.

11am Arrive

11am–12pm Introduction to OPAL

An introduction to the OPAL Primary Programme with time for questions. This is open to anyone considering how to make their playtimes amazing.

12pm–1pm Observation of playtime

Come and see a platinum OPAL playtime in action – ask the children about how they manage risk and the grown-ups about the changes they have seen.

About Holy Cross Catholic Primary School

Holy Cross is a primary school located in Leicester. There are approximately 230 children on roll (from reception to year six). Holy Cross is a nurturing school where the children and staff strive to be the best they can be: academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally. The school started their OPAL journey in October 2022 and received their OPAL Gold Award in November 2024. They have two loose-parts sheds, a large, natural sandpit, digging area, water play, den building, awesome hammocks, music, dressing up, arts and crafts, a plethora of small world provisions, a sports MUGA and a well-attended scooter/wheeled play area. The play team is very committed to continually improving their play offer, led by a fantastic OPAL curricular lead for play – and helped by their very supportive parents and local community. The level of purposeful engagement of every child at playtime is fantastic!

Additional information

There is limited parking within the school site. However, there is plenty of on street parking nearby.

Tea and coffee will be available.

The visit will be led by Rob Francksen (OPAL Leicester Ltd).

Only two tickets per schools please. If you can no longer come, please let us know so we can release your place to another school.

About the OPAL Primary Programme

The OPAL Primary Programme 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.

Find out more: www.outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk