Ofsted report finds parish playscheme and after school club with 'issues to address'

Inspectors who visited the school earlier this year found the playscheme in Whitwell was 'meeting expectations' in three main areas, but failed to meet safeguarding standards, and needed 'urgent improvement' in leadership and governance.

The report said: 'Leaders have not ensured that there is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that adequately protects children from harm.

'Policies and procedures to monitor children's attendance are not effective. Therefore, if children do not arrive, leaders and staff do not find out the reasons why, to help them promote children's safety.'

It goes on to say: 'Leaders do not implement an effective attendance policy that can be shared with staff and parents to help them identify effective procedures to follow if children do not attend. This is a breach of statutory requirements.'

However, a more positive finding states that: 'Leaders reflect on the experiences they offer children. They gather feedback from parents and children to help identify a range of activities to promote children's interests.

"This includes providing a 'chill' zone for children where they can go to be calm'.

It adds: 'Staff say that they feel supported with their wellbeing and practice. Leaders provide them with opportunities to meet to discuss professional development and to identify ongoing improvements in the club.'

Inspectors found the scheme was meeting expectations in the areas of behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines, children's welfare and wellbeing, and inclusion.

The report says: 'Children confidently ask staff for help when needed, such as during craft activities....staff encourage children to try to complete tasks by themselves first and then to ask for help, helping to build on their independence.

'This includes children who face barriers to their learning. It encourages children to have a positive attitude in their play.'

As regards welfare and wellbeing, leaders and staff encourage hygiene practices and 'help children to understand how they can keep themselves safe. This includes talking to children about stranger danger.'

There are opportunities for children to make their own lunches, and staff 'sit with children at mealtimes, making these social occasions where conversations take place.'

To practice inclusion, leaders and staff 'make adaptations to the environment to support children's individual needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities,' says the report, and staff find out about children's individual needs from parents, and will use pictures to encourage children to communicate thoughts and wishes.

Children are helped to settle when they first start, 'supporting their emotional wellbeing'.

Children arrive happy and confidently, and show positive relationships with staff and their peers, the report said. They confidently talk to staff about their needs and wishes.

'Staff adapt their practice to meet children's individual needs, such as to help them regulate their emotions'.

Since the last inspection, leaders have ensured that Ofsted has been provided with relevant information about all committee members to ensure suitability checks are completed.

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider was asked to ‘implement an effective attendance policy that explains the expectations relating to monitoring child absence and share this with parents’.

No-one from the Whitwell Parish Playscheme and After School Club was available for comment.