A nursery has failed an Ofsted inspection for not properly vetting its staff which left young children at significant risk.

The Beeches Montessori Nursery School in Osier Way, Banstead, was rated as "inadequate" in an inspection report published this month.

Ofsted found that the nursery had failed to carry out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks - the replacement for Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) checks.

In the report, Inspector Jacqueline Carolan concluded: "The provider does not have secure knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding and welfare requirements.

"Vetting procedures are not robust to determine the suitability of all staff. Consequently, children are not safeguarded."

Ms Carolan said checks had not been obtained for some staff working with the children. She said: "This puts children's welfare at significant risk."

But she said staff understood child protection matters and welfare procedures, adding: "This helps to protect children from harm."

The nursery currently has 50 children aged two, three and four years.

But in a statement the nursery hit back saying: "The report gives the impression that the nursery employed two new members of staff with no knowledge of their background, when in fact both are teachers with many years of teaching experience being vetted many times one of whom undertook their teacher training with us.

"Both teachers had a disclosure in place but they were outdated. It was an unfortunate administrative oversight which was corrected immediately.

"We have the full support of our parents and will continue to provide an excellent education, guidance, care and quality experiences for the children in our care.

"We are looking forward to next inspection within the next few months but we do hope it will sooner. We fully understand that Ofsted has a job to do."

During her visit in June, the inspector found most children were happily engaged in activities but some children were overlooked and not encouraged to get involved.

Not all staff had access to supervision and professional development and children were not always helped to become more independent.

But the report, published on July 16, said: "Children are happy and settled. They generally develop sound relationships with staff who are nurturing and sensitive to their care needs."