A PRE-SCHOOL in Southend has been criticised by Ofsted for compromising children’s safety after a youngster left without an adult.

The Whittingham Playschool, a privately- run facility at Whittingham Avenue Methodist Church, was rated inadequate in its latest inspection.

The Ofsted report found children’s safety was compromised because “staff are not deployed effectively when parents arrive to collect their children at the end of the session”.

The pre-school was inspected after an unnamed person raised concerns about incidents at the pre-school.

One child had been able to leave the centre on their own at the end of a session, without adult supervision.

Children were also able to lock themselves inside the toilet cubicles at the playschool, inspectors said.

The report added: “The inspection found the registered provider has not fully considered the seriousness of these events, as a comprehensive reviewhas not been undertaken to prevent such incidents from reoccurring.

“During the inspection some action was undertaken to ensure children are unable to lock themselves in the toilet cubicles.

“However, it was found insufficient steps have been taken to prevent a child exiting the main entrance door unnoticed, and unsupervised by an adult at the end of a session.”

The pre-school was praised for its ability to get children to settle in and form bonds with staff, and over its links with local schools. The inspection was carried out in April, but the report has only just been made public.

The Echo approached the pre-school manager for a statement, but she declined to comment.