A SPECIAL school which was ordered to improve in an inspection has been praised in its latest review.

SMS Changing Lives in Failsworth, an independent special school which opened in July 2019, was given an overall rating of "requires improvement" after an inspection by education regulator Ofsted in February 2020.

A material change inspection then took place in November after the Wickentree Lane establishment applied to increase its capacity from 24 to 40 children and to teach more youngsters between 16 and 18.

But Ofsted decided the Wickentree Lane establishment was "unlikely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the material changes relating to the school provision are implemented".

And this year, a school emergency inspection was ordered and carried out last month which found that the school now "meets all of the independent school standards that were checked during this inspection".

The latest report said: "All staff have received appropriate, up-to-date safeguarding training. New staff undergo training in safeguarding as part of their induction programme.

"Leaders provide all staff with a handbook, which sets out the key information staff need to carry out their roles effectively."

The school was found to take "account of staff expertise, as well as learning from any incidents in school, to inform the school’s ongoing behaviour management training programme for staff".

Concerns or complaints are treated "seriously" with lessons from them used as an "opportunity to further improve the school’s work".

The report added: "Staff who spoke to the inspector reported that there are effective arrangements in place for safeguarding pupils, maintaining good standards of behaviour and the proper supervision of pupils. Pupils who spoke with the inspector said that they feel well cared for and safe while in school."