Sparth Play Scheme in Rochdale has been going for more than 20years.
Children and parents love it and there is a waiting list. Yet Ofsted hasjudged it inadequate because staff don't have the right qualifications.Under national standards the scheme must have a manager and deputy withappropriate NVQ Level 3 qualifications.
"It's too much to ask of a scheme that only operates for 15 days ayear," believes Gillian Rushton, chair of the scheme's managementcommittee.
"You can understand it for full day care and where workers are gettingpaid but expecting us to do it is crazy."
An uncertain future
It's not even that people don't have qualifications as two of the teamhave them to degree level, one in community education and the other insocial work. But they've been told that doesn't count. As a result, thescheme will get in some paid Level 3 workers to see them through thesummer but the future is uncertain.
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