York childcare club ineffective in ensuring safety - Ofsted

Kool Kids Club is based at Rawcliffe Primary School in York

A childcare provider which offers before and after-school sessions has been told it is ineffective in ensuring the safety of children in its care.

Kool Kids Club, based at Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary School in York, was inspected by Ofsted in November and the results were published on 22 December.

The report found standards of early years provision were not met, but said children enjoyed attending.

The club said its trustees had already addressed concerns raised.

It added it had shared the report with parents before Christmas, and received messages of support.

Claire Fielding, Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary School's head teacher, said the school was "disappointed" with the outcome.

"Kool Kids trustees have already put in place measures to address the issues raised in the report in order to secure a 'met' judgement at their next inspection," she said.

She added any parents with concerns were welcome to talk them over with staff at Kool Kids Club.

'Safety cannot be assured'

The inspector who visited in November wrote in the report that "children's safety cannot be assured at the club due to weaknesses in some staff's safeguarding knowledge".

The report also read that "some staff are not able to demonstrate sufficient understanding of some indicators of abuse or of the correct action to take if they have any safeguarding concerns".

However, it added: "Despite these weaknesses, children clearly enjoy the time they spend in the club."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the club said in a statement: "Kool Kids Club provides a valued and essential service to many parents and carers.

"The inspector reported that parents say that their children enjoy attending the club before and after school, as well as during the holidays."

It added: "Kool Kids Club welcomes the continued support of Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary School and the City of York Council to ensure the provision continues at the school."