CHILDREN attending after-school club Keytime do not know right from wrong, according to Ofsted inspectors.

The education watchdog visited the provision, which operates from St Paul’s Church Centre in Covingham and provides before- and after-school and holiday care for children aged from three-and-a-half to 12 years old, on March 17, where they found the club ‘required improvement’.

While inspectors recognised significant improvements have been made since it was rated ‘inadequate’ last November, they said more work needed to be done, especially when it came to challenging children’s behaviour.

In the report inspectors said: “Staff’s behaviour management is not consistent throughout the setting. As a result, children do not learn right from wrong and are not always aware of adults’ expectations regarding acceptable behaviour.

“Children’s behaviour towards staff is not always respectful. Some children say inappropriate things to staff and to each other.

"For example, children tell each other to, ‘shut up’. Staff do not always explain to children why this behaviour is unacceptable so that children understand the difference between right and wrong.”

Inspectors also criticised staff for not ensuring children think about others while playing.

“Some children’s enjoyment of activities is sometimes affected by the older children’s over-enthusiastic use of resources,” the report said.

“Staff do not always make sure older children use resources outside sensibly, or remind them to think about others. For example, some older children used footballs in an extremely boisterous way, which stopped other children enjoying their play because they had to make sure they were not hit by the footballs,” the report said.

However, inspectors did praise the club for the improvements that have been made since the last inspection five months ago.

In November inspectors said the provision was inadequate, and the safety and wellbeing of children attending the centre was brought into question.

They also criticised the existing safeguarding policy in regards to the use of cameras, the lack of a key worker allocated to each child, and the failure of the provision to organise the environment to meet children’s needs.

Many of these failings have now been addressed.

The report said: “The owner has overseen many improvements through addressing the actions set at the last inspection.

"All staff now have a secure understanding of their roles in the manager’s absence."

“Management and staff provide children with a welcoming environment where suitable resources are immediately accessible on arrival.

“Children learn about good hygiene because management and staff are conscientious about hygiene routines, such as regular hand washing.

“Partnerships with parents and local schools are sound and promote children’s continuity of care. Staff discuss the children’s day with teachers, and parents are provided with suitable information about the club and the activities that their children take part in.”

At the time of the last report, Kamla Ladwa, owner of Keytime, said work was underway to make the necessary improvements.

She said: “Keytime have applied all of the recommended actions to improve the policies and procedures with working with its children, parents and staff.

“I would like to reassure the children, parents and carers that the safety and wellbeing and development of the children is the primary objective.

“Keytime has an open-door policy and parents can come and talk to me at any time if they have any concerns.”

To see the report of the inspection visit reports.ofsted.gov.uk inspection-reportsfind-inspection-report/provider/CARE/EY233017.