News from across the North East, events and resources
Take a look and find out what’s happening in a school near you!


North East Award Level Schools
















Latest News
OPAL CIC launches the A Plan for Play report at Westminster in 2024.
OPAL CIC winning at the Children and Young People Now Awards in 2023.
High vis vests photo day.
The National Playwork Conference in 2024 Again!
The National Playwork Conference in 2024.
OPAL honours awards presented at Westminster in 2024.
Apple Training for the North East team.
OPAL NE host the annual celebration of Play Awards at Shiremoore Adventure Playground
Party time at the HW work away
OPAL CIC national training weekend in Wales.
Visit to North Tyneside Recycling Centre with the North East team.
A wonderful morning spent with Moria Barnes, Business Sales Consultant.
Ingrid Wilkinson representing OPAL at the Schools North East Summit.
Anna Dutson, OPAL mentor for Cumbria, and Ingrid Wilkinson, Director of OPAL North East.
Julie West and Charlotte Derry, OPAL mentors covering the North West region, and Simon Knight, representing Play Scotland, join the North East team for a day full of play!
Charlotte Archibald and Hannah Fleming from Suez Recycling and Recovery UK
Angela Rees, Headteacher, Edmonsley Primary School, Durham

Annual Celebration of School Play Awards 2024
Every year we celebrate the amazing work of schools across the region. Behind the scenes of great play are committed individuals, children and businesses who all work extremely hard to ensure children have access to wonderfully rich play environments.
Categories
Going above and beyond
A school or person who has provided services, resources, or support to enable OPAL to progress
Community Spirit
A community or group who has come together to support the development of OPAL in a school and due to their contribution great progress has been made
Innovation
An item of equipment, or resources which enable children to access their creativity and/or resourcefulness
Proactive and enthusiastic child or group of children
Who actively support OPAL within their school
Champion Play Team
Team of staff who have up-skilled, contributed and developed their playwork skills to enhance OPAL within school
Sustainability and Longevity
A school who has continued to maintain high quality play provision and continued to excel in all areas of play. Potentially a school who has achieved 2 or more consecutive awards and is now progressing towards becoming an OPAL Honours School
Communications Award
A school or person whose communication has been outstanding, raising the profile of play to all stakeholders. This could be a fantastic video, newsletters or press release
Business or Volunteer Play Champion
A business/trade or person who has provided free resources or volunteering time to support a school to enhance and develop its play provision or grounds development

2024 Winners
Sustainability and longevity
Outstanding Play team
Most enthusiastic play cadets
Innovation
Community spirit
Going above and beyond


Shiremoor Adventure Playground
Shiremoor Adventure Playground is a community-based, inclusive adventure playground, catering for children and young people of all abilities. The playground is owned and managed by North Tyneside Council which works in partnership with Shiremoor Adventure Playground Trust.
The park aims to provide an environment where children can learn new social skills, take risks and innovate and where they can feel empowered by taking ownership of their environment. Throughout the year it runs social events which bring children and parents together in a supportive environment where play comes first and a sense of community is shared by all.
Public opening times are open access, with children aged eight and over able to come and go as they please. Children aged under-eight must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The playground also provides dedicated sessions for children with disabilities
Friendly Playworkers are always on hand to help out and support children to use the equipment. Refreshments are for sale at the small café run by local volunteers and supported by the Shiremoor Adventure Playground Trust.
Opportunities for Schools
Shiremoor Adventure Playground provides ‘A playful day out of school with a difference’
Schools can book the park for a full or half day and hire a playworker to deliver a range of fun and creative workshops. This might include den building, bushcraft, pizza making, nature play, schools often combine an interactive workshop with a few hours of use of the park which provides a rich playful environment with basket swings, zip wire, sand pit, roller skates, animals and much more.


Events
Eventbrite listings for showcase and regional meetings
Resources
Key helpful resource links providing information about play!
Get in touch
Have you spotted play in the news? Are you running a play in schools event or have a useful resource to share? Contact us so we can add it to this page.