Staff celebrate top Ofsted score

FIRBANK School's Out before and after-school club celebrate an outstanding Ofsted rating; (front) Keira Hopwood (7) leads the cheers

A BEFORE and after-school club has been praised as outstanding by inspectors.

Firbank School's Out in Royton was classed as requires improvement - the second bottom of four grades - by Ofsted in October 2015.

But the education watchdog returned last month and now rates it as the top grade of outstanding in every area.

Inspector June Kelly found the club's manager and staff had worked hard to make improvements since the previous inspection.
Her report says: "They have successfully addressed the action and recommendation raised and enhanced many other aspects of practice.

"The well-qualified staff team provides children with an excellent range of exciting and interesting activities which successfully complements their learning in school. Children are extremely motivated and totally absorbed in their play as their choices are respected and activities are planned accordingly."

She praised the highly-qualified and experienced manager, outstanding teaching, the children's excellent behaviour and high levels of confidence and self-esteem, and strong partnerships with Firbank Primary School, Grasmere Road, where the club is based.

Her report adds: "Staff are extremely sensitive and caring and ensure children's physical and emotional needs are consistently met. This helps to promote children's personal development and welfare to maximum level."

Delighted managing director Joyce Turner said: "Last year we got requires improvement because three staff couldn't answer a safeguarding question. We were utterly gutted.

"We are absolutely over the moon to get outstanding. We worked really hard."