A BURNLEY out-of-school club has been rated ‘inadequate’ by the education watchdog Ofsted.

Christ The King RC Primary School Out of School Club, which had previously been rated as ‘good’ when it was inspected in October 2009, was given the lower rating following an inspection earlier this month.

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The leadership and management of the Calderbrook Avenue club was criticised in the report as well as the contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children.

In his report, Ofsted inspector Frank Kelly said: “The committee, as the registered provider, has failed to meet its legal responsibility to notify Ofsted of significant changes to the individuals who make up the committee.

“The current arrangements for recruitment and vetting lack sufficient rigour to fully assure children’s safety.

“Records of how staff have been recruited and their suitability checks, such as those when accepting existing Disclosure and Barring Service checks are incomplete or inconsistently maintained.

“The staff currently record accident records on school documentation.

“As a result, staff fail to retain their own records as legally required.”

However, Mr Kelly said that the club’s staff had a secure understanding of how play supports children’s learning and of the safeguarding procedures.

He said: “Staff seek information from school staff so they can provide activities that allow children to practise and consolidate their learning, such as counting.

“Children learn about keeping themselves safe through fun activities, such as visits to the club by the fire brigade.”

Darren Mussell, headteacher of Christ the King Catholic Primary School, said: “We welcome this report and have already taken steps to put right the administrative issues which led to the inspectors’ judgement.

“I’d like to stress that all staff in the club have been carefully vetted through the Disclosure and Barring Service and we have tightened up the record-keeping around this.

“The next step in developing the out of school club will be for the school to take over its management.

“And we are currently in the process of putting the necessary arrangements for that in place.

“The inspectors were very complimentary about most aspects of the club, noting that the children do an enjoyable range of interesting activities that promote their learning and development, that staff know and meet the children’s needs, and that parents are happywith the service their children receive.”

“I look forward to building on these foundations and look forward to welcoming the inspectors back.”