Inspiring Play

Sponsored by Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL)

Every child should have access to time, space, opportunity and freedom to play. This award recognises approaches that have championed the power of play. It celebrates those who have created imaginative and engaging opportunities for unstructured and student-led play, highlighting the importance of free play in developing creativity, social skills and a lifelong love of being active. 

Finalists

Churchtown Primary School, Southport 

Churchtown Primary School has shown extraordinary dedication to ensuring every child has access to time, space and opportunity to play, through a truly inspiring, community-led initiative. Following the tragic loss of two much-loved pupils, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, who died at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in July 2024, the school rallied students, families and the wider community to transform grief into hope, healing and positive action. 

The school led a wide range of creative, student-driven fundraising activities, including danceathons, colour runs, bake sales and the remarkable multi-school “Churchtown Relay,” raising over £380,000. These funds are being used to create a new, imaginative, inclusive and purpose-built play space, designed to honour Alice and Bebe’s memory with joy and creativity. The playground will support unstructured, child-led play, giving young people the freedom to explore and connect with others in ways that enhance their physical, social and emotional wellbeing. 

What makes Churchtown Primary truly remarkable is the leadership shown by its pupils. Children were actively involved in shaping fundraising ideas, advocating for the project and uniting their community. The project embodies the belief that play is essential for healing, belonging, resilience and building community. 

This initiative demonstrates the strength of a school community and the transformational power of play to create lasting, positive impact even in the face of unimaginable adversity. The new playground and memorial will provide generations of children with opportunities for creative and physically active play, ensuring Alice and Bebe’s legacy continues through joy, connection and movement.  

Hernhill Church of England Primary School, Kent

Hernhill Church of England Primary School has been recognised for transforming play and supporting pupils’ wellbeing, communication, and physical development following the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns. 

As a small rural school, staff noticed that many children returned after lockdown with lower confidence, limited social interaction, weaker language skills, and increased emotional needs. In response, play became a key part of the school’s recovery strategy, seen as essential for rebuilding relationships and a love of learning. 

Central to this journey has been the dedication of school staff, led by Play Co-ordinator Kerry Thompson. Kerry, as part of the Hernhill Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) working group, has driven the school’s development of the OPAL programme. Working alongside the committed staff team, Kerry has helped reimagine playtimes and lunchtimes, creating a rich, inclusive, and child-led environment where pupils can explore, communicate, take risks, and solve problems. 

Children now enjoy a wide range of activities, including den building, loose parts play, imaginative role play, physical challenges, and creative exploration. As a result, behaviour incidents have fallen, pupils show greater independence and cooperation, and previously disengaged children now participate actively. Speech and language skills have improved, with children using richer vocabulary, engaging in longer conversations, and developing confidence in expressing ideas, positively impacting learning across the curriculum, especially for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or delayed communication. 

Parents and carers have been key partners, supporting the value of play both at school and at home. Hernhill’s work now extends beyond its community, with staff from over 90 schools visiting to learn from its OPAL provision. 

Through the dedication of its staff, the OPAL programme, and support from the Youth Sport Trust, Hernhill CE Primary School has created a sustainable model of inspiring play that is viewed as a core part of students’ education, rather than an add-on. 

Full list of shortlisted entries:

  • Môn Actif, Anglesey 
  • Hernhill Church of England Primary School, Kent 
  • Harrow Lodge Primary School, Essex 
  • Crocketts Community Primary School, Sandwell 
  • Churchtown Primary School, Southport 
  • St. Ebbe's CE (Aided) Primary School, Oxfordshire