New interest schools: OPAL school visit – Grove Park Primary School, Kent

See for yourself what an amazing playtime looks like at Grove Park Primary School, a two–form entry school and OPAL Platinum Award winner.

Are you thinking about starting the OPAL Primary Programme at your school?

Join us and be inspired as you observe one of the best school playtimes in the country. Here, children get muddy, build dens, take risks, explore, experiment, and achieve every single day.

11:15am–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.

1pm–1:15pm Next steps and close

About Grove Park Primary School

Grove Park Primary School is a 400-pupil school in Sittingbourne, Kent. They began their OPAL journey in summer 2023 and achieved the OPAL Platinum Award in summer 2025.

Their play offer is outstanding, ensuring every child enjoys a rich, varied, and engaging playtime every single day.

The school provides an exceptional range of play opportunities, including a large loose-parts shed, a huge sandpit, plentiful water play, den building, arts and crafts, wheeled play, sport, and a gardening club. A highly committed play team continues to develop and enhance the play offer, led by a strong OPAL working group and supported by enthusiastic parents and the wider local community.

Additional information

There is a car park at the school, with additional street parking available nearby. The school is approximately a 10-minute taxi ride or a 35-minute walk from Sittingbourne station.

Tea and coffee will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own lunch; please ensure it is nut-free.

Places are limited, so please book early. If you can no longer attend, let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your place to another school.

Please dress appropriately - we will be outside in all weathers.

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