Improving children's lives through the power of play

We transform children’s lives through play by informing, inspiring, and innovating with schools, communities, and businesses across the North East.

What we do

Playful Schools is a platform to bring amazing play to schools across the North East. Whether you're a primary school headteacher who wants to improve outcomes for your children or you're a business owner who wants to invest in your local community, this platform is for you.

School improvement through play

OPAL North East delivers the award winning school improvement programme to schools across the region.

Celebrating play across the North East

By sharing play news, advice and guidance from across the region, we inspire schools and their communities to prioritise play.

Connecting people to support play

Through projects such as turning business waste into children’s treasure, we help businesses support play in schools.

The power of play

“Pupils engage extremely well with the extensive outdoor play and learning facilities. Social times are exciting and productive. Outdoor play and learning are strengths of the school. The school teaches pupils to be independent, for example the school gives the pupils the tools to resolve conflict. Pupils are taught to risk assess situations by asking, 'will it hurt, will it break'. This learning helps pupils to play cooperatively and safely. Pupils make dens, play in the mud kitchen, play sport and perform. Their resilience, creativity and problem solving abilities are highly developed.”

Dan McKeating

Ofsted Lead Inspector, Lingey House Primary School report, February 2024