News from OPAL schools across the North East, events and resources
The map below identifies schools which are currently on their OPAL journey and award-level OPAL schools.
Celebrating North East OPAL award level schools
The North East is proud to announce we have the highest number of award level OPAL schools in the UK. Huge congratulations to every school which has committed to invest in play and uphold UNRC Article 31 Children's Right to play. If you're an award level school and would like to feature here, please get in touch.
North East School Play Awards
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.
Award 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
Award Winners 2024
Sustainability and longevity
Outstanding Play team
Most enthusiastic play cadets
Innovation
Community spirit
Going above and beyond
Introducing Shiremoor Adventure Playground.
For the past two years we have held the Celebration of Play event at our local adventure playground. This facility is a hidden treasure and every school is in awe at the endless possibilities and playfulness of the playground. The day consists of workshops, tour, training, lunch followed by awards. Our next event takes place on Thursday 24th June 2025.
Nominations are now open.
If you feel your school has gone above and beyond or someone or a local business has supported play in a wonderrful way, nominate them for an award.
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.
Playful news from across the UK
From organising regional meetings and awards to attending Westminster supporting OPAL CIC. When not directly supporting schools, the OPAL North East team is committed to developing skills and ongoing training to ensure schools are supported at the highest level.
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.
OPAL honours awards presented at Westminster in 2024.
Apple Training for the North East team.
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.
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
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
Connecting you to playful resources and guidance documents
For toolkits and policies, legislation to audits and from play work to loose parts. Play Scotland, Play England, Play Wales and PlayBoard NI provide an extensive range of guidance documents to support children's play. Please click on the relevant links to gain access via each website.
Get in touch
Have you spotted play in the news across the North East? Do you have a playful school event or resource to share? If so we would love to hear from you.
