Ofsted inspectors rate Funtastic Holiday Club at Christchurch Infant School as ‘good’

A HOLIDAY club for children has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted inspectors.

It is the first time the Funtastic Holiday Club, operating at Christchurch Infant School in Addiscombe Road, has been assessed since the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

Inspectors said the club, which provides out-of-school daycare for up to 32 children aged four to seven, welcomes youngsters “warmly”.

Following their visit on 2nd July, inspectors wrote: “Children show they are happy and settled at the club. Staff teach children about the importance of waiting for their turn, sharing the resources and using good manners.

“Children behave well. When minor disagreements occur, staff manage this effectively. They praise children for being kind and encourage them to consider the feelings of others.

“Children take care of their environment and take responsibility for themselves. For example, they tidy away resources before coming inside.”

Safeguarding arrangements at the club, which had 87 children on its roster, were described as “effective”.

The report found: “Leaders and managers support staff with their practice and well-being through effective monitoring and training processes. Staff are knowledgeable and keen to continually develop their skills.”

Children at the club enjoy 'show and tell' as a whole group and staff remind children to listen to others when they are talking.

Noting an area for improvement, inspectors wrote: “Occasionally staff do not make their expectations clear. This means that children sometimes lose interest because they are unsure what they need to do.

“The club provides healthy meals, which children enjoy. Staff remind children to wash their hands before eating and explain the reasons for doing so to promote good hygiene practices. However, at times, staff could do more to encourage children to drink water while attending the club, to help keep them hydrated.”