A disgusted nursery boss has branded Ofsted “a shambles” after receiving the lowest rating possible in every area.

First Learners Nursery in Folkestone has been graded ‘Inadequate’ overall and across four categories after inspectors discovered an unsafe environment where “learning happens by chance”.

But in an impassioned response, its manager, Kelly Vandenelsken, has hit out at the education watchdog for questioning her ability to safeguard children.

First Learners previously held a ‘Good’ rating - the second highest – but following a visit last month Ofsted found standards had slipped significantly.

“Children do not have access to an ambitious and engaging learning environment,” the report says.

“Children behave well and respond to instruction and praise from staff.

“However, learning happens by chance rather than through an ambitious and well-planned learning environment.

“Children's safety and well-being are compromised due to breaches in safeguarding and welfare requirements.

“The [manager], who is also a designated safeguarding lead, has a poor understanding of her responsibility to inform the local area designated officer when an allegation has been made against a member of staff.”

But Mrs Vandenelsken has criticised the report and insists the team at the Cheriton nursery is ensuring the needs of all 41 children on its books are met.

“The team are working together to make sure that anything that might have lacking been is fully developed,” she said.

Ms Vandenelsken also says the complaint against a staff member was baseless, but admits to using poor judgement in how it was handled.

“The whole report is a shambles...”

“Unfounded information led to the complaint, which led me to call who I thought I needed to,” she said.

“While I personally accept full responsibility for the poor rating, as it was due to an oversight, we will be back where we need to be imminently.”

Explaining she plans on complaining to Ofsted about the “unfair” rating, Mrs Vandenelsken said: “The whole report is a shambles.

“But what can you expect? It’s absolutely disgusting to go from a ‘Good’ to an ‘Inadequate’.

“I didn’t agree with the inspector’s judgement and I will be making a complaint to the head of Ofsted.

“We are working hard with the respective authorities to get our rating back to ‘Good’ as soon as possible and hope to be reinspected within the next five months.”

Although the Ofsted report was generally critical of First Learners, it did praise how staff help children with special educational needs (SEN).

Parent Derek West, whose three-year-old daughter Molly has attended the nursery since January last year, says she has had nothing but good experiences.

“Molly is a little bit different to other children as she’s autistic,” said Mr West, 47.

“Staff have been great with helping her thrive and over the past year and a half she has come along leaps and bounds and she’s made friends there.

“I think the Ofsted report is overly harsh – I would recommend the nursery to other parents.”