A Worcester nursery owner has defended Ofsted after it was criticised for “not providing fair results.”

After being deemed “inadequate” by Ofsted earlier this year, the director of Smileys Creche nursery, Michelle Buckley, claimed Ofsted had not given the organisation a fair inspection.

Ms Buckley said: "We have been in touch with other nurseries in the Worcester area who have also received negative inspections and all are concerned at the number that are happening since they resumed after covid.

"We believe all these nurseries can't suddenly have declined in standards and that Ofsted are not providing fair results."

However, Alice Bennett, owner of Worcester and Madresfield Early Year's Centres, did not agree. 

She said: “We have a duty to give each and every child the very best start in life we can.

“Covid has brought many additional challenges to our daily work and many settings are finding the current times very tough and demanding.

“I am aware that Ofsted feedback has been tough and exacting to many settings at this difficult time.

“I have supported several colleagues who are devastated and depressed about poor results that have been published.

“But I still feel that we must stand firm as advocates for young children and respond to any weaknesses in our practices to ensure that we are giving children the best quality education that they are, or should be, entitled to.

“Children only get one childhood.

“These years are so precious and we must not make excuses because of Covid, recruitment, the economy or any other issues.

“It remains a wonderful privilege but a massive responsibility to ensure that the citizens of tomorrow receive the very best start in life.

“Ofsted is doing their regulatory role and we need to rise up to the very high standards that are expected from us.”

Worcester News has contacted Ofsted for a comment.