A PRESCHOOL that challenged Ofsted after it was rated “inadequate” in every way has been given the same rating again.

Inspectors from the education watchdog visited North Drive Pre-school in Grove a second time after it made the complaint, and inspectors upheld the original judgement – the lowest possible rating.

But Ofsted apologised for one element of the way its original inspector acted, admitting she incorrectly thought there were outstanding complaints against the preschool.

Natasha Crellin first visited the North Drive Pre-school, which is in the grounds of Grove CofE Primary School but run independently, on March 18.

In her report published the following month, she said the quality of teaching and management of behaviour were poor.

She said not all staff were confident in the procedures they should follow if they had child protection concerns, which, she said, compromised their ability to safeguard children’s welfare.

Overall she rated the school “inadequate”, and said it “did not meet legal requirements for early years settings”.

In response, the county’s education authority Oxfordshire County Council said it would not fund any new pupils at the nursery until it addressed the concerns.

But parents rallied around to support the preschool.

Preschool manager Sarah Overson complained to Ofsted saying Ms Crellin has been “biased” against the preschool because she incorrectly thought complaints about it that had been closed were still open.

Following a re-inspection, Ofsted’s investigations contractor Tribal wrote to Mrs Overson and apologised for that mistake, saying it was due to “technical difficulties”, but upheld the overall judgement.

The company’s investigating officer Louise Bonney wrote to Mrs Overson: “ I apologise for this error, however, I can assure you that this did not affect the overall judgement, which is based on all of the evidence gathered during the inspection.”

An Ofsted spokesperson said: “In time, inspectors will return to conduct a full inspection and a new report will be published .”

Mrs Overson said she was still hoping to get an improved rating at the next inspection.

Oxfordshire County Councillor for Grove Jenny Hannaby said: “ One has to take a hard look at what Ofsted is saying, and they must try to enact the recommendations in the report.”