There are concerns a specialist early years centre in Stevenage for children with an autistic spectrum condition may be forced to close after an administrative error has seen its Ofsted rating plummet from outstanding to inadequate.

TRACKS Autism has enjoyed outstanding Ofsted ratings ever since it was established in 2002. 

However, the charitable organisation has now been rated inadequate solely because one trustee failed to submit one form to Ofsted.

The inspection report says: "The provider has failed to notify Ofsted of changes to a trustee over a period of time. This means that suitability checks have not been completed by Ofsted, to ensure that every individual is suitable for their role."

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Aside from this, the inspection report published in March is glowing. "Children make the best possible progress", it says, repeatedly referring to the "skilled staff" and "passionate principal".

The report also highlights how "parents praise the dedication of staff and how well they know their children", and that "they are very pleased at the progress their children make in short periods of time".

Alexa Pickersgill, chair of TRACKS Autism, said: "The inadequate rating arose due to one trustee not completing one single form - a wholly disproportionate consequence.

"Despite rectifying it before the report was published, the rating will remain in place until the next inspection, even though it is already out of date and inaccurate.

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"It feels very much that Ofsted aren't looking to help charities like ours.

"We have had overwhelmingly positive and supportive messages from the families whose children attend Tracks."

Alexa continued: "The inadequate rating is particularly devastating for Tracks. We are a charitable organisation and are totally reliant on donations to keep going - we get no financial support from the government or Hertfordshire County Council.

"We don't know if this inadequate rating will affect our funding. People don't necessarily look beyond the one-word rating.

"Ofsted is meant to inspect us again in six months, so we hope we can ride it out, but if we can't then we are going to have to close.

"Thirty-six families are completely dependent on Tracks and they have nowhere else to go."