AN OXFORDSHIRE pre-school has been closed by Ofsted after one of its committee members was charged with child sex offences.

Dunmore Pre-School in Abingdon will be shut for at least six weeks to ensure the “safeguarding of children” while an investigation takes place.

It comes after Paul Townsend, 28, who was president of Abingdon’s Chamber of Commerce and a member of the pre-school’s committee, was charged with sex offences against four girls.

The charges he faces do not relate to any pupils at the pre-school.

A notice on the pre-school’s website says the closure was “due to an Ofsted inspection in relation to recent circumstances”.

Ofsted yesterday confirmed the Farm Road pre-school would be closed for a minimum of six weeks while an investigation is carried out.

Ofsted spokesman Denise Rawls said: “The protection of children is Ofsted’s first priority.

“We were made aware of concerns at Dunmore and have suspended this provision while further inquiries take place.

“The pre-school was closed to ensure the safeguarding of children attending Dunmore while we conduct investigations.”

The pre-school issued a statement to the Oxford Mail which said: “We can confirm that Mr Townsend did have a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) Disclosure which is dated September 18, 2012.

“However, Ofsted would like to satisfy themselves as his CRB was not completed directly through them.”

Townsend was on the committee from September 2012, according to the pre-school.

The statement added that staff were “shocked” when they were informed about the charges against Townsend, who resigned immediately.

It said: “We would want to reassure parents and carers that no child has been at risk.

“The charges brought against Mr Townsend were in no way related to the pre-school other than by the fact that Mr Townsend was working with the committee to support the change from a voluntary setting to a limited company so his links to the pre-school were purely at the business end of things.

“In this role for the pre-school he never had any unsupervised access to the children.”

According to its official position Ofsted advises organisations not to accept existing CRB checks and said new checks should be carried out.

Ofsted refused to comment when asked if the closure was linked to the police investigation, or the process of CRB checks at the pre-school. When asked repeatedly if Townsend was the only member of staff Ofsted were concerned about, it also refused to comment.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “We have been in communication with Ofsted and once their inspection report has been released, we will review the need for any further action.”

Townsend, of Hadland Road, Abingdon, was charged last month with 16 alleged sexual offences against four girls between May 2010 and August 2012.

They include sexual activity with a girl, sexual assault and inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

Townsend is due to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 18.