After-school club to appeal over Ofsted criticism (From Oxford Mail)

After-school club to appeal over Ofsted criticism

3:46pm Thursday 10th June 2010 in

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AN after-school club is appealing after being told to improve by inspectors.

The club at Windmill Primary School, in Headington, Oxford, was rated inadequate by the education watchdog Ofsted.

It was given a so-called ‘notice to improve’ because it did not meet stat-utory requirements for at least half the staff to hold Early Years Foundation Stage qualifications.

The criticism came despite it being praised for providing enjoyable care and making children feel safe.

Committee chairman Robin Williamson, whose own children have attended the club, said the committee believed the judgment was harsh.

They have appealed, arguing that under Ofsted guidelines, even if all staff are not qualified, an overall rating can still be considered good if the rest of the provision is also deemed good.

Mr Williamson said: “This issue is all about the lack of qualifications. But the staff have been working towards these qualifications for some time. We have a very experienced and very good team.”

In all, five members of staff work in the club, including supervisor Sue Lockey, who holds a level 3 NVQ in early years.

The club, which has 66 children on its books and is open during term-time, has been given until September 30 to ensure staff have the necessary qualifications.

Mr Williamson said: “All the qualifications will be in place by the end of September, if not by the end of this term.”

The judgment only refers to the care for the youngest children at the club, who come under the early years curriculum.

In the report, inspector Helen Barter said: “Children enjoy the club and feel safe because staff care about them and help them to enjoy the activities on offer.

“However, the management committee has failed to ensure that at least half of the current staff... have an appropriate level of qualification, and, therefore, the setting is in breach of statutory regulations.”

Of 17 judgments in the report, four were inadequate, all of which were linked to safeguarding. Seven were satisfactory and six were good.

Windmill School’s headteacher Lynn Knapp said: “Despite the outcome of this report, I have every confidence that the care and support the children get in the club is of a high quality.”