THE future of Bournemouth’s Boredom Busters play scheme is in doubt as more damning evidence is revealed in a series of highly critical reports.

The entire play scheme was suspended after Ofsted inspectors uncovered a catalogue of errors at one site in Boscombe Chine Gardens.

Now the Daily Echo has studied recent reports on nine other Boredom Busters sites, three more of which have also been branded unsatisfactory, ineffective and even unsafe.

Unqualified staff, lack of vigilance and inadequate leadership were cited at some while others, particularly those at Littledown, Redhill and Slades Farm, were praised and ranked as good.

So far this year there have been allegations that students were allowed to work at Boredom Busters without obligatory Criminal Records Bureau checks and that staff at another site failed to realise a child had broken her arm.

A six-year-old girl is also alleged to have slipped into a swimming pool.

Findings at the sites also included: * At Boscombe Chine Gardens, “a lack of staff supervision, inadequate security and poor organisation overall means children’s safety is not protected.”

* At Stourfield the manager had no qualifications in childcare and there were no suitably qualified staff working with the children.

* Staff at Pokesdown did not always record accidents or any medication administered.

* Staff at Kingsleigh did not have a full understanding of child protection issues.

* At the Kings Park Primary School site, staff were not always vigilant about children’s safety.”

Cllr Lisa Northover, whose children have used Boredom Busters in the past, has demanded action to improve standards at the sites.

“This makes me feel quite upset because I trusted the scheme – parents want to know that their children are safe,” she said.

“With hindsight there have been things that have concerned me in the past but you end up thinking it must be OK because it’s run by the council.”

Cllr Northover stressed she would like to see the scheme open again and added: “We need something like this but there will have to be a lot of changes.”

Cllr Malcolm Davies, Cabinet member for education and children’s services, told the Echo: “The safety and well being of children is our number one concern and therefore we are taking these findings very seriously indeed.

“Strong action has been taken by suspending the Boredom Busters programme across the borough – it will not reopen until the necessary improvements to the scheme have been made.”

Cllr Claire Smith, Lib Dem leader and member of the children’s services panel, said she is optimistic that the scheme will be able to re-open.

“This is something which is well-used and loved by parents and children. There are areas that need to be addressed but it is not rocket science to get it right.

“Children have to be safe – that is paramount – but we need to have a sense of perspective. We have had to fight to keep this scheme open. I would hate to see this as the driver for closing it.”

And Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts added: “There should be a thorough investigation into why these things happened and it should all be sorted out before boredom Busters can re-open.”

Di Mitchell, Bournemouth council’s service director for children’s learning and engagement, said the scheme has been suspended to allow the council to address Ofsted’s concerns and review provision and to compare the criticised schemes with those that were ranked as good.

She said “all necessary action will be taken” to ensure the schemes meet Ofsted criteria.

* Read more on this story in today's (September 29) Daily Echo.