Special needs pupils are “at risk” and “do not make tangible progress” at a Christian day school with fees of up to £24,000 a year, an Ofsted follow-up report has revealed.

The SHC (So He Cares) school at St Elisabeth church hall in Wood Lane, Dagenham, endangered the two enrolled pupils through an unlocked storage cupboard containing chemicals and paint, inspectors found in a report published on Wednesday.

Checks made on staff are “inadequate” and the secondary school age students’ progress limited in most areas, according to the inspection in March.

SHC closed down in July 2015 and was moved from Barking Baptist church to its current location. Since the last inspection in July last year the school has introduced food technology, art and practical science but that these are “not cohesively planned” with pupils’ special educational needs in mind.

Proprietor of the school, Ruth Dakoru-Whyte, said: “We do have some challenges but we are looking to improve all over the school. The report will help us get better.”