Behind the Inspection Rating: Art inspires children after school

Children playing with glass? It is the stuff of a health and safety inspector’s nightmare, but at Winterslow After-School Provision Services (Wasps) it is one of many activities on offer to local children.

“Fused glass is probably the most challenging activity we’ve done because you’re working with glass and cutting glass, so it’s easy to cut yourself if you’re not careful,” says Fiona Wakeford, the founder and director of the service. “I don’t really have any boundaries in terms of what the children can do. You just need to adapt what you’re doing for the child. Some will need more help, others will go further.”

Glass cutting and making Christmas puddings with brandy might require an extra watchful eye, but Wasps’ willingness to offer such activities went down well with Ofsted when it came to inspect the service back in May. The inspector rated their provision as outstanding and praised “the incredible art and craft opportunities” on offer.

Wraparound care
Wasps started life in 2005 when Wakeford saw a news report about how schools would have to offer wraparound care. Her son was just starting at the Wiltshire village’s primary school and she wanted a service that her children would enjoy going to and was based in the village. She approached the head teacher and floated the idea of her running an after-school club.

“He welcomed it with open arms because it was also a great selling point for the school,” she says. After seeking advice from a nursery and Wiltshire County Council, the former business administration manager secured some initial funding and made the leap from parent to after-school club director. “It went through quite quickly, I decided on the idea in June and it opened on 5 September 2005,” she recalls.

Within two years, Wasps was self