Wrose school wins award for 'old school' approach to play

Low Ash Primary School, on Wrose Road, Wrose, is celebrating after receiving a special award for the different types of creative play it provides.

Children at Low Ash Primary School use a go-kart at playtime (Image: Newsquest)

The school is upcycling different materials and items to use on the playground including unusual play equipment such as boats, bathtubs, go-karts and old tyres.

Over the past two years, Low Ash has been running the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) project.

A child at Low Ash Primary uses a scooter to race through old tyres (Image: Newsquest)

“OPAL is changing the way children play,” said Amrik Singh, play learning mentor at Low Ash Primary. “They’re going back to the old ways.

“When I was at school, I climbed trees, played in old tyres and played on a go-kart track.

Children at Low Ash Primary use upcycled items at playtime (Image: Newsquest)

“It’s one of the things I remember most about my childhood is how I used to play.”

“We’re completely going back to how things used to be.

Children race through upcycled old tyres at playtime (Image: Newsquest)

“This is a change from the norm of how children play during break and lunchtimes.

“It allows children to use their imagination and creativity during play.

“We’re using items like bathtubs, canoes and a punch bag.

Children at Low Ash Primary use upcycled items at playtime (Image: Newsquest)

“These things really allow kids to use their imagination.

“It teaches them about resilience and problem solving.

“Twenty per cent of a child’s primary school life is play.

“This project provides them with the right things to stimulate them.

“For the children, they get maximum out use of the different items at playtime.

Mr Singh explained that OPAL came and assessed the school which scored 90 per cent on the audit.

He said: “Last month, our school achieved the highest award (Platinum) by scoring 90 per cent in the final audit.

“As we are the first school in Bradford to achieve this, we believe this a massive achievement.

“This has been a massive project for our school that’s been ongoing for the last two years.

“We’ve received items from local businesses like Wickes and Manningham Concrete.

“We want to make use out of items with emphasis on upcycling.

“The aim for the school is to reduce our carbon footprint.

“A lot of schools locally have come to us to find out more about the project.

“We’ve run an open day for these schools. They’ve been very interested in how we do things.”