Levels of care and education at a Kingsteignton pre-school have been judged inadequate by Ofsted officials just months after it opened. 'Perilously high' stacked chairs with toys stored on top, inadequate child supervision, poor management and 'unhelpful' models of learning were among the problems discovered during the first Ofsted inspection of the Pegasus Pre-school. It was established earlier this year by Paula Peggs after the closure of Rydon Early Learners, but by September complaints had reached the education watchdog. An unannounced Ofsted visit to the pre-school's facilities at Rydon Lane community centre took place on October 2 and officials found that national standards relating to the level of child supervision were not being met. They said children were 'not adequately supervised' and that the pre-school was 'not working with parents'. On October 17, the pre-school's management wrote back and convinced Ofsted that new arrangements had resolved the problems and no further action was taken. When inspectors returned on November 9 they found that the playgroup's nursery teaching and its organisation were ranked within the lowest possible 'inadequate' rating as was the protection from harm or neglect. Efforts to keep children healthy, to achieve well and enjoy what they did at the pre-school were rated only slightly better, just one level higher at 'satisfactory' As a result, Ofsted inspector Janet Butlin has issued an official 'notice of action to improve' and demanded better leadership. She has also called for activities to better suit children's individual needs in order to meet early learning goals. Mrs Peggs was invited several times by this newspaper to comment on the Ofsted report but she did not respond. Kingsteignton Parish Council, which owns the pre-school venue, is likely to discuss the Ofsted report.
