An school for children with learning difficulties is being forced to close by the Department of Education.

Little David's Nursery in Fieldway, New Addington, was told it had to make changes to the curriculum after school inspectors said it “provided an inadequate standard of education” in February.

The initial report, carried out in June 2009 stated the school's “pupils did not make enough progress” and “the school failed to meet a significant number of regulations.”

The school then acted on suggestions made by Ofsted but was still deemed not to meet certain criteria involving “standards relating to the quality of education, the provision for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and the suitability of the proprietor and staff.”

Head teacher, Patricia Bhola, a former Croydon Champion's Teacher of the Year nominee, said: “As far as I am concerned I think Ofsted has made a big mistake.

“I think the inspectors have failed to take into account the changes we have made, based on their suggestions and this comes off the back of unfounded allegations made against me, which were proven to be unfounded.

“The National Autistic Society were so pleased with the school they suggested we went for accreditation in September but we have told to close by July 31.

“This leaves us with an empty school with unemployed staff.”

According to the school examiner, Mike Kell, “Little has been achieved since the inspection in terms of improving curriculum planning, delivery and management.

In his report he also said: “There are no long-term schemes of work so that there is no coherent and progressive programme of learning for pupils to pursue as they move through the school.”