School wins third prestigious award for outstanding play areas

The Platinum Award for outdoor play and learning (OPAL) was awarded to Esh Winning Primary School in recognition of the range of opportunities it offers to its students.

This is the third time that the school has received the plaudit, with the first title awarded in 2015, the second in 2019 and the school's Platinum status renewed again this year following a full inspection.

The repeated success means that the school is now the only primary school in the region, and one of just four in the UK, to be graded as an Honours School for outdoor play, having provided sustained high-quality play for a period of over eight years.

Its outdoor play provision caters for all abilities, with a sand pit, climbing fame, multi-use games area, muddy play, den-building, mud kitchen, dressing up, creative play and a newly installed reading shed, offering opportunities for every child to experience the great outdoors.

Judges of the award recognised the commitment of the school's staff, with their report highlighting the quality of the team's leadership and planning, passion and enthusiasm, as well as the accessibility and maintenance of the school's outdoor spaces.

The school was described as an "exceptional school with regard to the quality of play provision provided to everyone", a place where "play is taken seriously" and which continues "to be inclusive, joyful and provide a wonderful variety of types of play."

Tremendous achievement 

Caroline Hodgson, head teacher at Esh Winning Primary School, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded OPAL platinum status again. The renewed award is a tremendous achievement and testament to the hard work and dedication of our wonderful staff.

"We believe that play is essential for physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual development and strive to continually provide our pupils with opportunities to imagine, develop resilience, grow memories, show teamwork, and most importantly play outdoors."

Cllr Ted Henderson, our Cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "Congratulations to everyone at Esh Winning Primary School. It is an outstanding achievement to become one of only four schools in the country to receive this award.

"It is wonderful to see how much joy outdoor play brings to the pupils as well as how valuable it has been to their development."