Thatcham school club closes after Ofsted failures
Action was taken by Spurcroft Primary School following Fun Time Club owner's official caution
AN after-school and holiday club in Thatcham has closed down after being heavily criticised by Ofsted.
Fun Time Club, which was run from Spurcroft Primary School, was shut by the school in July.
Following an inspection in January, the education watchdog found a catalogue of issues, one of which – failing to notify Ofsted that the person managing the facility had changed, a legal requirement in early years provision – could have resulted in a prosecution.
Despite owner Debbie Barnes appealing against the inspection report, which rated the club inadequate in eight categories and satisfactory in nine categories, she was unsuccessful and the club has since closed.
Ms Barnes said that, for the time being, she had no intention of starting up her business again.
She said: “We appealed twice but unfortunately they didn't see it my way.
“It's all irrelevant now as the school has decided it wants to run it.
“I'm a little disappointed as I didn't want to lose the club.”
A report issued by Ofsted following the appeals said: “We issued the provider with a simple caution, which she accepted. We may take this into account, if she commits an offence again, when making a decision on whether to prosecute.”
Other faults found at the club included that staff failed to ensure information was gathered to assess the suitability of volunteers who had regular contact with children, that on several occasions the club had not had suitably-qualified staff in place to meet requirements, and information about who had legal/parental responsibility for children had not been obtained prior
to admission to the club.
A spokesman for the local education authority, West Berkshire Council, Phil Spray, said: “The school acted immediately that Ofsted issued an inadequate report, requesting a meeting with the owner of the club to establish how the issues raised would be addressed.
“The school was not satisfied with the outcome of this and looked into the possibility of setting up its own club.
“Following this, they served notice under the terms of the contract on the owner of the Fun Time Club and wrote to parents to notify them that the club would cease operating shortly after the start of the summer holidays.”
He added that, although the school tried to keep the club open with extra supervision through the holidays, not enough staff could be found for it to operate safely, and Ms Barnes decided to close the club on July 22, before an Ofsted inspection was due to take place.
The new school-run facility, Wild Wood Club will be running from the start of next term.
Did you have a child at Fun Time Club? Telephone Tanya Haji on (01635) 564 541 or email
tanya.haji@newburynews.co.uk
