INSPECTION findings of a recently shut vulnerable residential home revealed claims of children 'suffering harm'.

Wings School in Milnthorpe closed last month due to 'operational challenges' which were being addressed in liaison with their regulator - the Department for Education.

The school and children's home, which was part of Kedleston Group, housed 35 young people who had social, emotional and behavioural difficulties at the time of the Ofsted inspection. 

The home was judged 'inadequate' at the full inspection on May 29, 30 and 31.

Ofsted found children 'had suffered harm due to serious and widespread safeguarding failures and that the leadership and management arrangements were ineffective'.

The report added 'some children said that staff use physical restraint as a form of discipline and compliance'.

It added: "They say excessive force is used and that they have sustained physical injuries. These are now being investigated by the appropriate safeguarding professionals."

Ofsted said staff confirmed that children are 'held' but physical interventions are 'not always recorded'.

When Ofsted returned last month it found that some care practices 'continued to be poor'.  

It said: "A lack of age-appropriate boundaries and structures, and a culture of poor and unsafe practice continues to place children at risk of harm."

The Department for Education said it had 'acted quickly' to remove all pupils from the school and ensure alternative placement was provided for all children by working closely with Ofsted and the local authorities.

A spokesperson for the school said: “After careful consideration, the difficult decision was taken by Kedleston to deregister the school and voluntarily cancel registration of the on-site children’s home.

“In conjunction with local authorities, the children have moved from the home and are now residing elsewhere. Their wellbeing remains our absolute priority and a responsibility we take very seriously.”

Cumbria Constabulary confirmed that they have received a number of reports of abuse at a school in South Cumbria.

A police spokesperson said: "Enquiries are at the initial stages to establish the full circumstances of the allegations."

Wings School home was ­re-inspected twice last year and found to be 'good' until May’s visit.