A school has been banned from accepting more pupils after concerns were raised about the safety of children.

The Department for Education issued Rudolf Steiner School in Kings Langley with a notice barring them from accepting more students.

The Government sent the school a letter last Thursday and parents were told in an email on Tuesday.

A parent, who does not want to be named as they have a child at the school, said: "They have told parents not to put complaints in writing in case Ofsted shuts them down.

"They are still blaming former parents for their woes. They told all parents that they plan to appeal."

Last year a teacher was suspended from the school for inappropriate behaviour.

In February Ofsted inspected the school just one month after the education watchdog found it to be "not safe" for the children.

This inspection took place on December 13 to 16 with no notice as the school is usually inspected by the School Inspection Service (SIS).

READ MORE: The Rudolf Steiner School, in Kings Langley, rated inadequate by education watchdog Ofsted

READ MORE: Letter: Parents have confidence in Rudolf Steiner School, Kings Langley

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of children in our schools is of the utmost importance and we take any failures in this area extremely seriously.

"That is why we put in place an order barring Rudolph Steiner school in Kings Langley from accepting more pupils following an Ofsted inspection that raised particular concerns around leadership and safeguarding.”

READ MORE: A teacher has been suspended from Rudolf Steiner School in Kings Langley

The school has been given until April 10 to appeal to the First-Tier Tribunal; the restriction does not come into effect until that date.

If the school appeals, this will not come into effect until the Tribunal deals with the appeal.

A spokesman for the school said: “We are surprised and disappointed at the decision of the DfE to place restrictions on future student admissions.

"Following our last Ofsted inspection, in December 2016, a comprehensive action plan was produced by school management, and we are confident that we have addressed the main safeguarding concerns.

"A great deal of progress has also been made toward fully meeting the Independent Schools Standards in all other areas that Ofsted highlighted in its report.

"The parent body’s support has been tremendous, and they are working with the school to ensure that all of the new measures, especially regarding safeguarding, are integrated seamlessly in to the school’s culture, while maintaining the ethos of a community friendly school.

"We will appeal against the decision by the DfE and during the appeal process, the school will be able to continue to admit new students.

"The school management is confident in meeting all Independent School Standards, and will request an inspection in due course."