Safety issues at a school for children with special needs are being dealt with, the Minister of Education has said.

Diallo Rabain was responding to questions from The Royal Gazette which reported this month that staff at Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy had staged a work stoppage over concerns and children were sent home.

It is understood that problems at the school on 10 Old Military Road, Devonshire, include roof cleaning.

In a letter to parents, the staff had said the “recent” issues were beyond their control and were putting children and staff at risk.

They also encouraged families to urge the Ministry of Education to take urgent action.

While Mr Rabain did not outline specific problems, he has now alluded to issues relating to staffing numbers and the school building.

He said: “The Hope Academy opened the day after that incident. The Department of Education Student Services is the one that works with Hope Academy.

“I do know that additional staff have been put on. We have had conversations with the principal and the staff there, and we are addressing those issues that have come up.

“It is a combination of the clients, as in the students, that are there, as well as outstanding issues in the building.”

Mr Rabain said that the Government also intends to “accelerate” the development of the school as part of its education reform plans.

He added: “There are some things we recognise that we will be addressing and moving forward as we look to reform our system.

“One of our signature schools is a school for exceptionalities, Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy is one of those schools that will be part of that, and we recognise that we need to accelerate the development of that school so that we can make sure that the facilities and resources are in place.”

A source close to the school confirmed that the roof of the building was being painted over the autumn break.