T T T Y Y School

Talmud Torah Toldos Yakov Yosef 14 Heathland Road, London N16 5NH

p.1

Context of the inspection

 The inspection was undertaken at the request of the registration authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan.  The inspection was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection and was conducted without notice.  The school’s first progress monitoring inspection on 15 December 2015 judged a significant number of regulations as unmet.  The Department for Education last wrote to the school on 6 May 2016 to confirm the action plan the school had submitted had been rejected.  The inspection focused on the school’s progress in Parts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards.  The inspector had meetings with senior leaders, including the headteacher, associate headteacher and early years manager, observed learning in all classes, scrutinised a wide range of documentation, toured the premises and spoke with pupils.

p.1

Quality of education

 At the time of the last inspection, many failings in this part were still not met. Plans did not demonstrate how teaching staff would take pupils’ ages and abilities into account; the seven areas of learning were not comprehensively planned; and teachers were reported to have low expectations of what pupils could achieve, particularly in English. Resources were poor, systems for checking pupils’ progress were not in place and personal, social, health and economic education was not planned effectively enough to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.  The school’s leaders said that they had decided to prioritise dealing with the weaknesses in welfare, health and safety, and the premises. As a result, many of the required actions to improve the school’s curriculum and teaching have not yet been introduced, and therefore many standards continue to be unmet.  The school’s curriculum policy is currently under review. All schemes of work are being written

p.1

Quality of education

or rewritten and new planning templates are being introduced. All seven areas of learning are delivered in various forms across the academic year, but are not comprehensively planned for. Old resources in disrepair have been disposed of and new reading books are on order. Resources seen in observed mathematics lessons were suitable textbooks. A new system for teachers to review pupils’ progress in the seven areas of learning each week has very recently been introduced.  Since the previous inspection, increased curriculum time has been devoted to secular education in the younger years, especially in reading, writing and speaking English, and mathematics. Time devoted to English has also slightly increased for children in the early years.  Although there is evidence that personal, social, health and economic education work is taught in the context of religious studies, discrete planning for the subject is not in place and pupils are

p.1

Quality of education

still not taught about the protected characteristics or prepared for life in modern Britain. Monitoring report: Talmud Torah Toldos Yakov Yosef, 27 June 2016 2 of 6

p.1

Quality of education

 The school has recently introduced greater testing of pupils’ abilities in English and mathematics, and leaders are using software to analyse pupils’ overall performance. Leaders acknowledge the need to introduce assessment systems to identify pupils’ starting points, and progress, in all areas of learning.  The last inspection reported that the school failed to meet a number of the independent school standards related to promoting pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Though progress has been made, standards continue to be unmet.  This inspection found that the policy for personal, social, health and economic education has now been updated and that integrated work, specifically in relation to the teaching of the fundamental British values of democracy and the rule of law, has strengthened. For example, pupils have recently learned about the various forms of government and engaged in their own

p.2

Quality of education

European referendum, including learning about each stage of the democratic process.  Leaders acknowledge, however, that there is still much more to do on teaching pupils about mutual respect for, and tolerance of, those with different faiths, beliefs and cultures, and say they are currently planning the teaching of these areas.  Pupils continue to contribute to their local community, and experience other parts of London on educational visits. A recent visit to Hackney’s community museum enabled pupils to complete a citizenship course, learning about road safety, public transport, fire safety and first aid. Pupils visit a senior citizens’ home and a special school for pupils with severe learning and physical difficulties on an annual basis. They fundraise regularly for local families in need, and are due to visit the science and natural history museums, as well as the White Cliffs of Dover, later this

p.2

Quality of education

term.  The school’s holistic approach is to teach pupils to respect everybody, regardless of difference. However, the religious expectations of the school’s community mean that teaching of all of the protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010, specifically those that relate to gender, sex and sexuality, does not happen. References to all such matters are completely avoided. Leaders acknowledge that as they do not teach pupils about all of the protected characteristics, the related standards continue to be unmet.

p.2

Welfare, health and safety

 The school now meets all the required standards.  The safeguarding policy now meets all requirements, as the procedures for dealing with allegations against staff are now very clear.  The anti-bullying policy now meets requirements as the school has taken into account cyber bullying and e-safety, both in the policy itself and as a taught element of the curriculum.  Arrangements for fire safety now meet all requirements. All fire exits are clear and safe, and a new exit has been created for children who may be using the outdoor area at the lower school site. Fire drills and external checks and maintenance of all fire safety equipment are regularly and accurately logged.  The standard for ensuring attendance registers are maintained is now met. A new attendance register policy is in place and all class registers are now routinely completed and checked by leaders.

p.2

Premises and accommodation

 The standard for health and safety arrangements is now met. While leaders agree the buildings would benefit from redecoration, the premises are safe.  While adults continue to accompany the youngest pupils through the synagogue to access the outdoor area, this short walk has been subject to a risk assessment and does not pose a risk to their safety.

p.2

Leadership and management

 Leaders have taken some positive action to address regulatory failings since the previous inspection, but acknowledge that there is still a significant amount of work to do to meet all the Monitoring report: Talmud Torah Toldos Yakov Yosef, 27 June 2016 3 of 6

p.2

Leadership and management

independent school standards.  As a result, the proprietor and school leaders have not yet ensured that the regulations are fully met and therefore the associated standards for the leadership and management of the school continue to be unmet.

p.3

Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

 Ensure that there is a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work (paragraph 2(1)(a)).  Ensure the written policy, plans and schemes of work take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils (paragraph 2(1)(b)(i)).  Ensure that the written policy, plans and schemes of work provide full-time supervised education for pupils of compulsory school age, which gives pupils experience of linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education (paragraph 2(2)(a)).  Ensure that the curriculum provides personal, social, health and economic education which encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act (paragraph 2(2)(d)(ii)).  Ensure there is effective preparation of pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in British society (paragraph 2(2)(i)).

p.3

Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

 Ensure that the teaching at the school enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught (paragraph 3(a)).  Ensure teaching involves well-planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time (paragraph 3(c)).  Ensure teachers show a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensure that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons (paragraph 3(d)).  Ensure teachers demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught (paragraph 3(e)).  Ensure teachers utilise effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range (paragraph 3(f)).  Ensure there is a framework in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress (paragraph 3(g)).

p.3

Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

 Ensure the proprietor actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (paragraph 5(a)).  Enable pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for other cultures (paragraph 5(b)(v)).  Ensure respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act (paragraph 5(b)(vi)).  Ensure that those with leadership and management responsibilities demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; that they fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and that they actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)). Monitoring report: Talmud Torah Toldos Yakov Yosef, 27 June 2016 4 of 6

p.3

Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

p.4

Information about this school

 Talmud Torah Toldos Yakov Yosef School (T T T Y Y) is an independent school for boys aged 2– 12 with an Orthodox Jewish faith ethos. It is situated in Hackney, in North-West London.  There are 181 pupils on roll, including 46 in the early years, all of whom attend full time.  All pupils are members of the local strictly Orthodox Jewish community and speak Yiddish as their first language.  Pupils attend school six days a week. The majority of the school day is taken up with Jewish religious studies, which are taught in Yiddish. Secular studies, which include daily English and mathematics in the afternoons, are taught in English.  The school’s headteacher leads the Jewish curriculum. The associate headteacher leads secular studies, is responsible for welfare, health and safety and is also the designated safeguarding lead. There are two governors, both actively involved in the life of the school.

p.4

Information about this school

 The school’s most recent inspection was its first progress monitoring inspection in December 2015, when a significant number of regulations continued to be unmet. The school’s last full inspection was in February 2015 when the school was judged to be inadequate in all areas and many independent school standards were not met. Monitoring report: Talmud Torah Toldos Yakov Yosef, 27 June 2016 5 of 6

p.4

School details

Unique reference number 100299 Inspection number 10020229 DfE registration number 204/6387 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.

p.5

School details

Type of school Jewish faith school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 2–12 Gender of pupils Boys Number of pupils on the school roll 181 Proprietor Toldos Yaakov Yosef (TYY) Institution Trust Chair P Braun Headteacher Rabbi A Friesel Date of previous school inspection 15 December 2015 Annual fees £4,992 Telephone number 020 8802 1348 Fax number 020 7990 8011 Email address tyyschool@yahoo.co.uk 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 .

p.5

School details

You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

p.6

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 .

p.6

School details

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

p.6

School details

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

p.6

School details

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

p.6