A FAMILY-run after-school club in Shaw has been praised by inspectors for its range of activities, exemplary staff, child behaviour and parent partnerships.

The Big Adventure Club has a number of units across Swindon, but the latest to be inspected is at Brook Field Primary School, in Cartwright Drive.

In a report published by Ofsted this week the club, which runs before and after the school day, was rated ‘good’ after an inspection visit on July 8.

Julie Swann, Her Majesty’s Inspector, said: “Staff provide children with an exciting and varied range of activities. As a result, they are interested and develop new skills as they play with their friends at the end of the school day.

“Staff are very good role models.

Children are respectful and discuss their own rules, learning how they contribute to the happy, welcoming and safe club they enjoy. Consequently, children’s behaviour is excellent and prepares them well for their future learning.

“Partnerships with parents are very good. This is because managers and staff develop positive relationships with parents, who comment that they are very pleased with the club and the range of information provided to them. Managers and staff successfully evaluate their provision for children.

This helps to identify priorities for improvements and act upon them.”

Tracey Hicks is the director of Big Adventure, which has been operating in Swindon for 23 years, and has already spread out to Bath and Wiltshire.

She said she was pleased with the latest report, as was the team based at Brook Field, who look after around 24 children per day, all aged four to 11.

“We really want to do our best,”

said Tracey.

“It’s just remembering you are parents and you want the children to be taught the way you want your own children to be taught. That’s what we strive for. All our staff are qualified.”

The company will open new units at Liden Primary School and South Marston Primary School in September.

At its last inspection in February 2009, Brook Field’s Big Adventure was rated ‘outstanding’.

Ms Swann said: “It is not outstanding because, occasionally, children become impatient during group times, as these are sometimes too long, and they are eager to play with the activities on offer. Staff do not always make the most of opportunities in the daily routine to encourage children to be independent and complete small tasks to help themselves, such as at teatime.”