A chaotic and ‘unsafe’ after-school club put children at unnecessary risk, according to a watchdog report. Ofsted inspectors found More Play More Often - based at Edgeley Children’s Centre, in Stockport - was failing to provide primary school-aged children with a ‘safe and nurturing’ environment.
The centre was issued with a welfare requirements notice, setting out nine areas for urgent improvement - including ensuring that all areas of the premises were suitable for childcare. Leaders at the Cheadle Old Road centre - which also offers a school holiday club outside of term time - say these have all been met, and Ofsted is now ‘very happy’ with how things are being run.
The watchdog says the next report will confirm what progress has been made. But during a visit in February, officials found serious cause for concern.
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While the centre was rated ‘good’ four years ago, a ‘turbulent time’ since is said to have resulted in standards ‘significantly declining’. The inspection report reads: “Leaders and staff have an extremely poor understanding of playwork. They have not designed a play programme which is matched to children's interests,”
This, inspectors said, ‘results in children being bored and not knowing how to engage in play’. “For example, some children sit alone, stare into the distance and stand for long periods of time looking out of the window,” the report reads.
“Staff are unaware of this and merely supervise children without any quality interactions."
Staff were found not to provide children with clear expectations for their behaviour - meaning they ‘do not learn to behave in safe ways’.
“Furthermore, children do not learn what is right from wrong or how their actions impact others,” the report adds.
“When staff give children instructions, children do not follow them. This does not help children to learn about mutual respect and boundaries.”
Inspectors described the play environment as at times ‘chaotic’ noting that it ‘does not support the needs of children, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Support for children with SEND is described as ‘incredibly poor’. “Leaders and staff have a limited understanding of what individual needs children with SEND have,” the report continues.
“This means that children with SEND are at a disadvantage and have an extremely poor experience at this setting.” Some staff were also observed to sit for prolonged periods of time without interacting with children. Officials noted how they were unaware of how to prevent children's behaviour deteriorating’ and also failed to teach them about good hygiene practices.
“For example, they do not help children to understand the importance of handwashing after blowing their noses,” the report finds. “Additionally, they fail to provide children with adequate facilities for toileting and for drying their hands.”
The premises were also said to be unsafe - leaders having failed to act promptly to get broken toilets fixed and to ensure that outdoor bins have been emptied.
Risk assessments are described as ‘poor’. “Leaders fail to identify hazards, including unstable tables, broken equipment and broken cupboard doors,” the report states. “Rubbish is strewn across the outdoor play area. This places children at unnecessary risk.
Safeguarding arrangements were also not found to be ‘not effective’ - with staff having gaps in their knowledge despite having completed the required training. “Some staff are not aware of the correct procedure to follow should they need to refer concerns about the welfare of children,” inspectors found.
However, recruitment checks for staff were said to be ‘robust’. “Leaders are aware of how to notify Ofsted of changes to the setting and to the suitability of any adult connected to the setting,” the report adds.
Christopher Eastwood, centre manager, said: “We have now met all the requirements Ofsted want us to meet and Ofsted are very happy with everything at More Play More Often CIC and the way it's being run, and we look forward to are next inspection in August.”
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