A children’s after-school club in Croydon has been given the lowest possible food hygiene rating.
Arisekidz, a childcare provider based at John Wood Primary and Nursery Academy in Croydon, has been told that urgent improvements are needed following a food hygiene inspection.
The after-school club, which operates from the school on Dartnell Road but is not run by the school, was inspected on February 3.
Inspectors found that while some standards were being met, there were concerns about how food safety is managed.
According to the inspection report, food handling and preparation were rated “generally satisfactory,” meaning inspectors were broadly satisfied with how food is prepared, cooked, reheated, cooled and stored.
The cleanliness and condition of the facilities - including layout, ventilation, handwashing facilities and pest control - were also judged to be “generally satisfactory.”
However, the most significant issue was in the “management of food safety” category, which was rated as “urgent improvement necessary".
This area looks at whether proper systems and checks are in place to ensure food is safe to eat, whether staff understand food safety rules, and whether inspectors are confident standards will be maintained.
Food hygiene officers typically assess three key areas during inspections: how hygienically food is handled, the cleanliness and condition of the premises, and how food safety is managed.
A spokesperson for AriseKidz said: “They’ve been to us [inspectors], and since then we have been expecting to hear from them.
“I believe if it is really that urgent, according to what the claim is saying, they should have come back to us by now.
“We have moved to a school where the requirements are even higher.
“And we have tried to comply with all that they were saying about the building.
“And we have been expecting to hear from them since.”
Arisekidz describes itself as an Ofsted-registered, faith-based club that supports working families by offering extended childcare in a safe and nurturing environment.
It says it aims to promote positive role models, encourage social development and provide a community centred around faith and family.
Despite the inspection outcome, the provider currently holds a 5.0 rating on Google based on 18 reviews.
Members of the public can request the full food safety officer’s report from the local authority, although access may be limited in some cases.
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