Peninim

Progress monitoring school report Peninim School

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Context of the inspection

 This unannounced progress monitoring inspection was undertaken at the request of the Department for Education, the registration authority for independent schools.  At the time of the school’s first inspection, in 2012, the school met all the independent school standards. It was judged to provide a satisfactory quality of education.  The school re-located in November 2013, and applied to the Department for Education for a material change to increase the number of pupils on roll from 25 to 50.  In December 2013, the school received a material change inspection. Several standards were not met in: Part 3, Welfare, health and safety of pupils; Part 5, Premises of and accommodation at schools; and, Part 6, Provision of information. This inspection recommended a material change once the unmet standards were rectified.  The school submitted three action plans between July 2014 and December 2014 detailing the

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Context of the inspection

actions it intended to take in order to address the unmet independent school standards. All three action plans were judged to require improvement.  In January 2015, the school submitted a further action plan which was evaluated in February 2015. This action plan and its timescale for implementation were judged to be satisfactory.  In March 2015, the Department for Education informed the school that a continued failure to meet the standards at the time of this present progress monitoring inspection could result in an immediate move to delete the school from the Register of Independent Schools.  The purpose of this inspection was to check the implementation of the school’s action plan to address the failed independent school standards and to confirm whether the material change is recommended.

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Welfare, health and safety

 The inspection in December 2013 established that the school’s child protection policy had not been updated in line with the latest statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013. In its fourth action plan, the school indicated that it had revised the child protection policy in light of the latest guidance issued by the Department for Education.  As a result of implementing its action plan, the school now has a child protection policy which includes all the statutory requirements, and a clear description of the different types of abuse. All members of staff, including the designated child protection officer, have undertaken recent and appropriate child protection training. Discussions with staff and pupils confirm effective implementation of the policy. For example, pupils explained how they would keep themselves safe, including how they would deal with potential dangers posed by fires or from strangers.

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Welfare, health and safety

The curriculum for all pupils, including for the very youngest children, provides good opportunities for them to develop effective social and emotional skills. This enables them to interact appropriately and to have the confidence to speak up if they feel uncomfortable about a Monitoring report: Peninim School, 29 April 2015 2 of 6

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Welfare, health and safety

situation or inappropriate behaviour. This requirement is now met.  The inspection in December 2013 found that the school’s anti-bullying policy did not include the latest guidance issued by the Department for Education outlined in Preventing and Tackling Bullying. The school’s action plan outlined a revised policy.  As a result of implementing its action plan, the school now has a revised up-to-date policy which includes all the latest guidance. Members of staff have undertaken recent training on how to identify and prevent all types of bullying. Discussions with pupils reveal their awareness of all types of bullying. Although they do not understand the terms cyber-bullying or prejudiced-based bullying, they are able to articulate an awareness of these forms of bullying. For example, they know that it is wrong and hurtful to say unkind things to anyone who is different to them. They explain that they do not use the internet; but that, if they did, their parents would supervise

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Welfare, health and safety

them. Pupils say that there is no bullying in the school and that everyone gets on well together. This standard is now met.  The previous inspection found that the school did not have a fire risk assessment that complied with the requirements of the Fire Safety Order. As a result, the school was unable to provide a report of an inspection carried out by the local fire and rescue service in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In the school’s fourth action plan, the school outlined its intention to submit a copy of the fire risk assessment to the London Fire Brigade for their approval.  This inspection confirmed the school has implemented its action plan. The fire risk assessment has been carried out and this complies with the requirements of the Fire Safety Order. It is formally recorded and regularly reviewed. The report from the inspection carried out by the London Fire Brigade identified a large number of recommendations for the school to act on. For

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Welfare, health and safety

example, staff had not undertaken training in fire safety, and the school did not carry out regular fire drills. This inspection established that all the failures had been resolved, including the ones relating to fire safety. All members of staff have received training on how to use fire extinguishers. Records show that the school now regularly undertakes fire drills; this was confirmed in discussions with staff and pupils. The school now meets this standard.

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Part 5, Premises of and accommodation at schools

 The material change inspection found that the school’s medical room did not include a washing facility with running hot and cold water.  This inspection confirmed that the school has successfully implemented its action plan. The school now meets this regulation. Although the medical room is in the school office, when pupils are ill this room is vacated for the pupils’ sole use to secure privacy. There is a fold-away bed, which is close to a sink with hot and cold water and near to a toilet. Administrative staff make this room available as soon as it is required.

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Part 6, Provision of information

 The material change inspection in 2013 found that the school did not have an up-to-date safeguarding or child protection policy which included the latest guidance. Therefore, it was unable to provide one to parents of pupils or prospective pupils.  This inspection established that a revised and up-to-date child protection policy is available to parents of pupils and of prospective pupils on request. The school keeps a copy of all relevant policies in the school office. This regulation is now met.

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Quality of leadership and management of schools

 Leaders and managers have addressed the standards which were not met at the previous inspection. However, this inspection found further unmet independent school standards.  The school does not have a website and is therefore not able to publish or maintain its latest Ofsted report on the internet. However, the school’s latest inspection report is available to parents on request. Monitoring report: Peninim School, 29 April 2015 3 of 6

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Quality of leadership and management of schools

 This inspection identified that the checks made on staff in the Early Years Foundation Stage do not meet the early year’s statutory requirements. The school has yet to put in place any procedure for ensuring that no members of existing or new staff are disqualified by association from working with young children.  Leaders and managers, including the proprietor, do not demonstrate the skills and knowledge to ensure that all the independent school standards are all consistently met and to ensure pupils' well-being.

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Material change

 The school applied for a material change to raise the number of pupils it admits. This change is not recommended because there are weaknesses in the school’s arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children in the early years, together with shortcomings in the premises and provision of information.

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

 The proprietor should ensure that following an inspection under section 108 or 109 of the 2008 Act, a copy of the report of the inspection (if it has been sent to the proprietor) is published and maintained on the school’s internet website, and provided to the parents of each registered pupil, by any date specified by the body who conducted the inspection (paragraphs 32(1), 32(1)(d)).  The proprietor must ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school (paragraphs 7, 7(a)); by ensuring that paragraphs 18(2)and 18(2)(b); paragraph 21(1); and paragraphs 21(3) and 21(3)(a)(iii) are met and that the school meets the following statutory framework requirement for the Early Years Foundation Stage: 'Ensure there is a system in place to manage any potential disqualification of staff' (3.14–3.18).  The proprietor, leaders and managers must fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

independent school standards are met consistently and that the well-being of pupils is actively promoted (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c). Monitoring report: Peninim School, 29 April 2015 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Mary Hinds, Lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Peninim School is a small independent Orthodox Jewish primary school for girls. There are currently 25 pupils on roll, taught in three classes. There is an early years class for Nursery and Reception children, and a further two classes for Year 2 and Year 4 pupils.  All pupils are from the Orthodox Jewish community in North West London. Most pupils speak Yiddish as their first language, and English as an additional language.  There are no pupils identified as being disabled or having special education needs.  The school opened in September 2010, although registered in September 2011. At the time of the school’s first full inspection, in June 2012, its overall effectiveness was judged to be adequate. All the independent school standards were met.  The school moved to new premises in November 2013 from Golders Green to Hendon, North London. In December 2013, the school received a material change inspection when it failed a

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Information about this school

number of independent school standards.  The school aims to provide ‘a high level of excellence in both religious and secular studies, based firmly on Torah principles’. Monitoring report: Peninim School, 29 April 2015 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 137502 Inspection number 464152 DfE registration number 302/6001 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008.

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School details

Type of school Jewish primary school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 2−12 Gender of pupils Girls Number of pupils on the school roll 25 Number of part time pupils 0 Proprietor Rabbi Y E Brief Headteacher Caroline Rand Date of previous school inspection December 2013 Annual fees (day pupils) £3,900 Telephone number 0208 209 0610 Email address peninimschool@gmail.com Monitoring report: Peninim School, 29 April 2015 6 of 6

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School details

in the guidance 'Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 , or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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School details

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School details

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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School details

and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit

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School details

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School details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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