Children at an after school club in Mortlake are not adequately safeguarded, according to an Ofsted report published this week.

After inspecting The Fun Club in Mortlake Hall, which has been rated ‘inadequate’, Victoria Nicolson wrote: “Staff do not have sufficient knowledge of the indicators that a child may be at risk of harm, including from exposure to radicalisation and extremism.”

Inadequate hiring procedures were in place with leaders not carrying out appropriate checks, “such as obtaining references”.

Management did not check whether staff were disqualified from working with children.

The report stated: “Leaders and staff do not have an appropriate understanding of disqualification and how association with disqualified individuals can affect their suitability to work with children.”

The inspector found “leaders fail to recognise significant breaches in requirements and take steps to improve”.

Although staff played alongside the kids, they “do not have sufficient knowledge of children's needs and interests to offer them appropriate support”.

Children’s time at the club is “not used effectively” and they “often get bored”.

The inspector stated: “For example, they spend long periods waiting be told to wash their hands and to be given their snack.

“Staff take children away from activities before the session ends to tidy up and collect their belongings.

“This means children sit waiting for their parents in the foyer with nothing to do. The leader does not ensure that young children have a key person to support their individual emotional needs.”

Staff do not have paediatric first-aid training, putting children at risk “in the event of a serious accident or emergency”.

The only positive the inspector found at the club was that “partnerships with parents are positive” and that parents “feel that staff are flexible and fun”.

Management at the Fun club are “incredibly disappointed” with the report.

A spokeswoman said: “The Fun Club considers the wellbeing and safety of the children in its care to be its top priority.

“All the staff are aware of the risks surrounding radicalisation and extremism but Ofsted did not consider their knowledge to be sufficient.

“We can confirm that all the staff have now undertaken the current Prevent training and that we have addressed all the points raised during the inspection.

“We are all incredibly disappointed with our recent Ofsted result but are now looking forward to the next inspection within six months so that our current rating can be removed.”

The club, which is open to children from Barnes Primary School, St Mary Magdalen School, Thomson House and East Sheen Primary School.

To improve management must ensure staff know how to identify indicators a child might be at risk of harm.

Management must follow “robust” hiring processes to make sure staff are suitable to work with children.

Staff must have first-aid training and be able to support children and “tailor care to their specific needs”.