A children's nursery which closed suddenly, blaming a lack of funds, had been rated "inadequate" by inspectors just weeks before, it has emerged.

Hedgehogs pre-school in Wayfield, near Chatham shut after watchdog Ofsted gave it the lowest scoring marks in all categories - and was particularly critical of its care of babies.

It found that there were no qualified staff working with babies, as required, which led to a "significant impact on the standard of practice" and meant not all children were receiving suitable support to be ready for their next move to school.

Describing the early years care as "weak", the report said: "Staff do not ensure that they deploy themselves well enough to meet the needs of the babies at all times."

Suitable hygiene measures were not deemed to always be in place, with babies drinking out of of each other's cups.

Inspectors said children's safety was compromised due to staff lacking knowledge regarding risk assessment and safeguarding procedures.

The report also found little ones did not benefit from a challenging curriculum and those who did not speak English as their first language lacked support.

Ofsted issued a set of enforcement measures to be carried out by the end of last month, including ensuring qualification requirements were met and implementing effective staffing arrangements, particularly in the baby area.

On safety issues, it found: "For example, there are a range of items stored on partition walls that separate the age groups, including full water bottles, which could fall on babies and young children."

But it recognised staff interacted positively with babies reading their favourite stories and talking to them as they played.

It was the playgroup's first Ofsted inspection since opening the premises at a former church in Street End Road about a year ago.The inspection took place on October 6.

The nursery's branch in New Road, Rochester also received an overall "inadequate" result after an inspection in June and is now under new leadership.

At the end of last month, co-owner Laura Hollands said the school, which accommodated 52 children from newborns to four-year-olds, was "no longer financially viable".

The former primary school teacher who, with her business partner Eve Poynter, runs pre-schools in Chatham, Rochester and Hempstead, said at the time: "Things came to a head and sadly we had to make a difficult decision.

"We are required to have a certain level of qualified staff. At the end of the day, the pre-school government funding is not enough to cover salaries.

"And we are competing with the likes of Amazon and Aldi, where you don't need a qualification, get higher wages and don't have to have the responsibility of looking after children."

A total of 11 staff were employed, five of whom held relevant early years qualifications to at least level 2. One employee was qualified to level 6.

'We disagreed with the inspection result and challenged the inspection, including providing evidence to support the challenge'

Mrs Hollands, director of teaching and learning, said: " As previously advised we sadly had no choice but to close our Wayfield nursery due to the lack of funding received from the council to recruit sufficient qualified staff resulting in the inadequate grade, along with rising rent and other costs.

"We disagreed with the inspection result and challenged the inspection, including providing evidence to support the challenge.

"Wayfield was very popular amongst our families and we were thankful for all the positive comments we received from parents which were communicated to the inspector.

"Our Rochester nursery is under new management and we are looking forward to welcoming Ofsted back to inspect the setting in the coming weeks."

The women, who set up the company in 2016, have managed to get little ones places in their three other sites across Medway.

She added: "We have also been able to strengthen our other pre-schools by transferring staff."

Nurseries are at the head office in Hills Terrace, Chatham; in Hempstead Road, Hempstead; and New Road, Rochester. They currently employ 44 staff.

Last year, a dream of opening a new venture in a dilapidated pub came to an end after what they described as a catalogue of red-tape hurdles.

They had hoped to welcome toddlers to a branch at the former Green Lion in Rainham High Street and had to let down families at the last minute, having forked out £5,000 on specialist surveys.

Initially, they say they were told their application submitted in October was favourable and they started enrolling children, stencilling their logo outside and decorating the inside.

But they were then confronted with more requirements to be met and their opening date was delayed.

The last hurdle, which came from the highways department, was the final straw.

They then took over the former Sacred Heart Church in Street End Road last year.