The safety and welfare of children at a playgroup is 'not assured' according to an inspection triggered by a complaint about a child being left unsupervised in a toilet area.

Horsford Pre-School Playgroup, which has 68 children on its roll, is writing to parents to reassure them it is doing everything necessary to rectify the situation, after it received Ofsted's lowest 'inadequate' rating.

A summary of the complaint, which the inspectorate received on September 14, found 'on this occasion staff were not vigilant enough to supervise children at all times', but the manager has since 'taken appropriate actions to ensure that all children are now always appropriately supervised'.

However, inspector Karen Harris said the management committee had not told Ofsted about changes to the nominated person and committee members in 'a timely manner', meaning suitability checks had not been carried out.

Constance Buck, chairman of the playgroup's committee, said: 'All the issues that were brought up in the Ofsted report are already being dealt with. There are some that will take longer, but they are all being dealt with in a timely manner.

'The progress we have made so far had been brilliant.'

She said some of the terminology the inspectors used made the situation seem worse then it actually was, and emphasised that the group had a strong committee whose members were willing to do the necessary work.

She added: 'The feedback [from parents] so far has been positive. Basically, they said they know us and know the setting and they support us, which is lovely. That's more than you can ask for.'

She said she expected Ofsted to re-inspect the playgroup in about six months' time.