The owner of a preschool near Eastleigh has told how she closed her preschool when Ofsted refused to defer an inspection.

Little Wisp Hilltops in Bishopstoke was due for a full-day inspection on Thursday while the school's manager was on compassionate leave. 

But the owner, Kim Sallis, told the Echo she made the "difficult decision" of closing for the day instead - forcing Ofsted to abandon the inspection.

There are calls for all Ofsted inspections to be paused following the death of Reading headteacher Ruth Perry whose family said she was under pressure.

Kim said: "Our school's manager was on compassionate leave, and I wasn't going to ask her to come back down for it.

"I asked for deferral due to circumstances regarding the manager and that it wouldn't be a true reflection of what goes on there because the manager is not there.

"It's a job to shine in an inspection, and the manager is the key part of that." 

READ MORE: ​Cantell School in Southampton praised after Ofsted inspection

Kim said other school staff felt "ill and stressed" at the thought of having to do the inspection without the manager. 

"The deputy manager didn't feel strong enough to take on that, and I didn't want to pressurise her into doing so," she said.

"I felt that it was unfair to put that pressure on the staff. 

"The mental well-being of the staff is more important to me." 

Kim decided to close the preschool on the day of the inspection after feeling like she had no other option. 

She said: "We never want to close the preschool. It's the last thing we would want to do. 

"Financially, it is a very bad idea, and it is also not good for the parents. But they are very understanding and caring." 

The school, which is open Monday through Thursday, will be back open next week. 

The preschool does not currently have an Ofsted rating.

Kim wants Ofsted to reschedule. She said: "All my managers are outstanding. 

"They run their team, they provide a service for the community, and they care for children in the most outstanding way.

"We meet all requirements and regulations. 

"We make sure that everything is in place from the minute we open to the minute we close. 

"We all try to go above and beyond, and our staff is eager to show them what we can do."

"Every team wants to be proud of what they do and the commitment they make."

An Ofsted spokesperson told the BBC: "I can confirm the setting was closed when our inspectors arrived and as a result the inspection did not commence.

"It would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time."