DAMNING details have emerged of the reasons behind the sudden closure of a Coopersale pre-school.

Parents of the Little Ark pre-school in Coopersale Common were shocked when they received a letter from the management committee informing them that it would not open again in September.

Registered Provider and treasurer Raymond Mckerron said he had to close the school because he could not find a supervisor.

But a report released by Ofsted showed it failed to provide a safe environment for the children, and achieved the lowest possible score on all 14 of the areas it was measured on.

Criticism included unvetted visitors having unsupervised access to children; an insecure outdoor area; and hazards such as animal faeces, rubbish bags, and unsupervised access to the kitchen.

The report also claimed the pre-school failed to employ staff with appropriate qualifications and as a result children's welfare, safety, learning and development was compromised.

It added: “Although the manager is aware of some areas for improvement, very little action is taken by the provider to support the improvement of these identified areas of weakness.”

Mr Mckerron denied the children had been at risk and added: “The Ofsted report made criticisms over a number of administrative and record keeping practice. The report wasn't great but it had an awful lot to do with administration, not the welfare of the children.”

The report said that parents had an ‘affable’ relationship with staff, but parents who spoke to the Guardian said the school had never been run well.

Louise Allaker, 30, from Thornwood said: “We knew about the Ofsted report but they denied it had anything to do with the closure.”

Her neighbour Sharon Bailey, 32, added: “The Ofsted was awful because a lot of things that needed doing the committee would never pay for. They couldn't be bothered.”

Nicola Chaudhury, 35 from Coopersale Common said: “It wasn't run very well. We were always giving money to the school for various things and we did loads of work ourselves, repairing things in the garden because it was quite dangerous and they wouldn't do it.”