Education

Ofsted praises Ashton Park’s holiday club for innovative, child-led activities and outdoor adventures in summer 2024

Sunday, 9 November 2025 5:03AM UTC

Escape Zone Holiday Club at Ashton Park School has received high praise from Ofsted for its engaging, inclusive, and child-focused approach, featuring innovative outdoor experiences and fostering strong community connections in the summer of 2024.

Escape Zone Holiday Club, hosted at Ashton Park School and operated under the Excalibur Academies Trust, has recently received high praise from Ofsted for its engaging and child-centred approach to holiday care. The inspection report commended the club for fostering a joyful, inclusive atmosphere where children actively contribute to shaping the daily activities, fostering a strong sense of ownership and belonging among attendees.

Ofsted’s findings highlighted the club’s varied and well-balanced programme, which blends energetic games such as dodgeball and “wink wink murder” with quieter pursuits like colouring and puzzles. A distinctive feature is the inclusion of outdoor and novel experiences, including paddle boarding and raft building, facilitated through partnerships with external providers. The staff’s warm and reassuring manner was noted as particularly effective in forming strong connections with both children and their families, contributing to a welcoming environment where children arrive eager to participate.

The club also emphasises healthy living and independence. During meal times, discussions about nutritious choices are encouraged, while the tuck shop serves as an opportunity for younger children to practise early maths skills and decision-making. Staff teamwork and morale stood out in the report, describing the team’s dynamic as akin to a “family feel,” with a shared commitment to delivering high-quality experiences.

Community sports centre manager and Escape Zone team leader Sam Delaney expressed pride in the team’s achievement, stating that the report reflects the dedication, creativity, and care invested in providing a positive environment for children. Richard Uffendell, headteacher of Ashton Park School, echoed this sentiment, congratulating the holiday club for its outstanding outcome and highlighting its role in supporting young people during school breaks when many staff take time off.

Escape Zone forms part of the broader holiday offerings at Ashton Park Sports Centre, where a range of activities for children aged 4 to 14 are available. These programmes, overseen by qualified level 2 community coaches and backed by extensive experience, include multi-sport games designed to encourage physical activity, social interaction, and fun. The centre’s activities are Ofsted registered, ensuring adherence to high standards of safety and educational value.

The Summer 2024 programme at Ashton Park Sports Centre further supplements the Escape Zone with additional activities like kayaking, archery, and extended day options that cater to different age groups and preferences. This comprehensive approach underscores the centre’s commitment to providing accessible, varied, and quality holiday experiences for local children.

Overall, the positive Ofsted inspection of Escape Zone Holiday Club not only reinforces the quality of care and educational support offered but also reflects the broader ethos of Ashton Park Sport Centre and School in nurturing confident, healthy, and engaged young people within the community.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (Bristol Post) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
^[2] (Ofsted report for Escape Zone) - Paragraph 1, 2, 3
^[3] (Ashton Park Sports Centre junior activities) - Paragraph 6, 7
^[4] (Ashton Park Sports Centre activity information) - Paragraph 6
^[5] (Ashton Park Sports Centre junior activities overview) - Paragraph 6
^[7] (Ashton Park Sports Centre Summer 2024 Programme) - Paragraph 7

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/ofsted-praises-holiday-club-kids-10614469 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2788667 - The Ofsted inspection report for Escape Zone, located at Ashton Park School in Bristol, provides detailed insights into the club's operations. The inspection, published on 3 September 2025, evaluates various aspects of the club's performance, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness. The report offers a comprehensive assessment of the club's strengths and areas for improvement, serving as a valuable resource for parents and guardians seeking information about the club's standards and practices.
https://www.ashtonparksports.com/junior-activities/holiday-activities/ - Ashton Park Sports Centre offers a range of holiday activities for children aged 4 to 14, including the Escape Zone programme. This programme features various multi-sport activities such as Chaos Tag, Dodgeball, Crash Mat Races, Cross the Golden River, Football, Benchball, Tails, and more. The centre's qualified coaches aim to encourage children to become more active, meet new friends, discover new interests, and have fun. The activities are OFSTED registered, ensuring a high standard of care and education.
https://www.ashtonparksports.com/junior-activities/holiday-activities/activity-information/ - The Activity Information page for Ashton Park Sports Centre's holiday programmes provides detailed descriptions of various activities offered, including the Escape Zone. This programme is available as a full or half-day booking for children aged 4 to 14. Activities include dodgeball, tag, benchball, crash mat races, rounders, tennis, parachute games, and more. The emphasis is on children having fun while interacting and mixing with others of different ages and abilities. The page also outlines the different day options and booking procedures.
https://www.ashtonparksports.com/junior-activities/ - Ashton Park Sports Centre's Junior Activities page highlights the centre's commitment to providing quality programmes for children aged 4 to 14. The holiday activity programme has been running since 2005 and has grown from strength to strength. The centre employs qualified level 2 community coaches with years of experience in coaching children both at community venues and within local primary schools. All staff are qualified and have enhanced CRB clearance. The activities are OFSTED registered, ensuring safety and quality.
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/145398 - The Ofsted inspection report for Ashton Park School, located at Blackmoor's Lane, Bower Ashton, Bristol, provides an assessment of the school's performance. The inspection, published on 16 January 2023, evaluates various aspects of the school's operations, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness. The report offers insights into the school's strengths and areas for improvement, serving as a valuable resource for parents and guardians seeking information about the school's standards and practices.
https://www.ashtonparksports.com/wp-content/uploads/Summer-2024-Programme.pdf - The Summer 2024 Programme for Ashton Park Sports Centre outlines the various activities and schedules for children aged 4 to 14. The programme includes the Escape Zone, which offers standard, extended, and full-day options. Additional activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, archery, and raft building are also featured. The programme provides detailed information on timings, prices, and age groups for each activity, assisting parents and guardians in planning their children's summer activities.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is based on a recent Ofsted inspection report published on 3 September 2025, indicating high freshness. ([reports.ofsted.gov.uk](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2788667?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: Direct quotes from the Ofsted report and statements from Sam Delaney and Richard Uffendell are present. No earlier instances of these exact quotes were found, suggesting originality. However, the phrasing of 'family feel' in describing staff dynamics may vary in other contexts.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from the reputable Bristol Post, a well-established news outlet, and references the official Ofsted report, ensuring high reliability.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about the Escape Zone Holiday Club's activities and Ofsted's praise are plausible and align with the Ofsted report's findings. The narrative includes specific details such as the inclusion of paddle boarding and raft building, which are corroborated by the Ofsted report. ([reports.ofsted.gov.uk](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2788667?utm_source=openai))

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is fresh, originating from a recent Ofsted inspection report. It includes original quotes and is sourced from a reputable outlet. The claims are plausible and supported by the Ofsted report, indicating a high level of credibility.

Ofsted
Holiday Clubs
Child-centred Education
Outdoor Activities
Community Sports