Head quits before damning report

The primary school has been placed in special measures

The suspended head teacher of a Swindon school resigned before a highly critical Ofsted report was made public.

Head Paul Sunners and three other Nyland Primary School staff were suspended amid an investigation into how children were being restrained.

Inspectors have now given the school for children with special needs the lowest score in 25 out of 27 categories they consider.

Swindon Borough Council said the school had been put under special measures.

'Unsafe places'

In their report, inspectors said: "Pupils, particularly the older ones, do not understand the impact of their actions on others, and classrooms are often unsafe places for other pupils and staff."

The four staff were suspended in 2008 after an inquiry into how children were restrained.

A council spokesperson said: "Any school placed in the category of special measures is worrying.

"But we can assure parents, staff, pupils and the wider community that we are committed to working in partnership with the school to ensure its performance improves significantly within 12 months.

"We are confident that progress is already being made and this has been acknowledged in the report."

An NSPCC investigation into the restraining methods is under way, while a police inquiry has been dropped, along with charges against one member of staff.