Leaders and staff at a Holme Valley playgroup have launched an official objection to Ofsted.
Hepworth Playgroup and Pre-School, based in the Village Hall, was judged to be Inadequate by inspector Nicola Dickinson just before Christmas.
She criticised a number of areas, including safeguarding, assessments, staff’s knowledge of children’s learning needs and a lack of challenging activities.
However, the management, committee and staff feel that this was not a true representation of the playgroup, which has been running for almost 35 years.
They have lodged a protest with Ofsted and issued a statement.
In it, they say: “The management, committee and staff of Hepworth Pre-School are extremely disappointed at the outcome of their inspection.
“We feel that we have consistently provided a broad range of educational experiences and positive reinforcement for our children, including frequent trips and outings, which were overlooked by the inspector, and a formal complaint has been lodged.
“The recommendations given by Ofsted have already been addressed and staff have plans and strategies in place to ensure our children are safe at all times, which has always been the case.
“We continue to work hard to provide the best possible outcomes for the children in our care and would like to thank parents for their continued support.”
On the positive side, the inspector said: “Children are supported to build secure relationships that prepare them emotionally for the move to school.”
She added: “The pre-school is welcoming. There are displays of children’s work and photographs of children and their families throughout the pre-school.
“Children are encouraged to complete simple tasks, such as tidying up after their play. This promotes team work and helps them to develop a sense of responsibility.”
The project is run by Hepworth Playgroup and Pre-School Committee and currently has 21 children on its roll.
