Staff taking pictures of children with their personal phones has seen a previously 'outstanding' pre-school downgraded to inadequate following an Ofsted report.

Inspectors visiting Cherubs Pre-School in Linton near Maidstone found staff had been photographing youngsters on their phones, and sending the snaps to parents and other workers.

The pictures were used to update parents on the children's progress, and there is no suggestion the photos were anything other than development aids.

But inspectors took a dim view of the practice, calling it "inappropriate", and branding the pre-school's safeguarding "ineffective".

In the recent report, inspectors said taking the photos on personal phones posed a threat to the children's safety, and criticised the manager for failing to monitor the phone snaps, thereby putting children's welfare "at risk."

The report says: "The provider has not identified the use of mobile phones as a safeguarding issue and does not show a secure understanding of how to safeguard children."

In most other areas however, the report praised Cherubs, highlighting a number of strengths.

In terms of quality of teaching, learning and assessment, the pre-school was rated good, and was also rated good for outcomes.

The report reads: "Children make consistent progress in their learning. They are enthusiastic learners who develop the skills they need for school."

Cherubs Pre-School is run by Cindy and Steve Fox, and was rated 'outstanding' in 2009, and 'good', in an earlier report in 2003.