STAFF are failing to keep children safe at Springfields Academy in Calne according to a damning report published by school inspectors Ofsted into the school’s social care.

The academy for pupils with complex learning, emotional, social and behavioural difficulties admitted in October that it was expecting an ‘Inadequate’ rating following a social care inspection in September.

The report states that staff fail to keep pupils safe or respond effectively to children’s complaints.

It added that the academy’s safeguarding officers are not up to date with their mandatory safeguarding training, that the quality of risk management is poor and that current practices in relation to the administration of medication is unsafe.

Former Springfields Academy parent Sarah Stewart says she took her 11-year-old son out of the school in January due to safety fears.

She said: “I didn’t feel my son was safe in January, risk assessments were not being done right. I didn’t think teachers were looking after him properly.

"The report was everything I said was going on but nobody was listening to me.”

The overall grading of Springfields Academy remains outstanding and Ofsted inspectors did note that the senior leadership team demonstrates the determination necessary to improve the quality and standard of care provided to residential pupils.

The Academy has implemented a number of focussed improvements since the inspection and is receiving support from a lead Ofsted inspector who is headteacher of Uplands School in Swindon and an Outstanding SEN residential school Mulberry Bush School in Oxfordshire.

Headteacher, Jon Hamp, said: “The academy is already in a much stronger, secure place to continue to improve and above all to provide a learning environment where our children can thrive and reach their full potential.

"It's very clear to Ofsted we have been through turbulence its a very newly appointed senior leadership team who are aware of our weaknesses.

"We are driven to improve, this has hurt us and we have had to take a very hard look at ourselves but we now have the support. Ofsted will see significant improvements but we will remain under the spotlight for a considerable period of time and we are braced for that."

A new independent improvement board has also been introduced by the Academy to look fortnightly at progressive actions arising from the inspection.

Chair of governors, Ninna Gibson, said: “We are working hard to ensure the social care provision continues to improve so our pupils have all the support they need to do well and enjoy their time at our school.”