Wiznitz Cheder School

Wiznitz Cheder School 126b Stamford Hill, Hackney, London N16 6QT

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Reason for the inspection

 This unannounced emergency inspection was conducted at the request of the Department for Education (DfE), the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The purpose of this inspection was to check the school’s compliance with the independent school standards and to check on current staffing arrangements at the school. The inspection was conducted without notice.  This inspection evaluated if the school was complying with the following independent school standards: Part 3, welfare, health and safety of pupils, paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 14, 16, 16(a), 16(b); and Part 8, the quality of leadership in and management of schools, all paragraphs.

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Main findings

 The school does not meet the independent school standards for Part 3, welfare, health and safety of pupils. Therefore, the proprietor has failed to ensure the school meets the standards relating to Part 8, the quality of leadership in and management of schools.  Leaders do not ensure that the safeguarding policy is readily available for parents. The versions of policies that are available and used by the school are not compliant with the most recent statutory guidance from the Secretary of State for Education.  The safeguarding policy does not outline how child protection concerns relating to the headteacher or proprietor would be handled. It fails to outline who such concerns should be taken to by parents or members of the community. The policy does not make clear that concerns about staff must be reported by the designated safeguarding officer to the local authority designated officer. The policy contains inaccurate information which suggests that the

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Main findings

school will refer such safeguarding concerns to the Department of Health.  Leaders do not ensure the well-being and safety of pupils during morning break. The inspector observed pupils playing on the school yard with litter strewn across it. Staff had failed to remove plastic bags, black bin liners, cake wrappers or plastic cups. Consequently, these items posed a health and safety risk for pupils. The failure to remove the litter also showed that pupils are not well supervised and that hazards are not consistently removed to keep pupils safe.  Leaders undertake monitoring of the potential hazards around the school building and grounds. However, it is unclear what steps are taken to reduce risks when possible hazards are identified. Leaders have recorded identified risks for key stages 1 and 2 in Hebrew rather than English.  The inspector identified an area of the playground with a range of dangerous equipment. This

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Main findings

equipment was hazardous to children and while it was fenced off, a break in the fencing meant that a pupil could easily access this area.

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The school must take action to meet The Education (Independent School Standards)

Regulations 2014 and associated requirements. Emergency inspection: Wiznitz Cheder School, 26 May 2016 2 of 5

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 Ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school (paragraph 7(a)).  Ensure that arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraph 7(b)).  Ensure that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy (paragraph 11).  Ensure that pupils are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff (paragraph 14).  Ensure that appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified, in order that the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and appropriate actions are taken to reduce risks that are identified and that these are recorded in English (paragraphs (16), 16(a) and

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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

 Ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school 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) and (34(1)(c)). Emergency inspection: Wiznitz Cheder School, 26 May 2016 3 of 5

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Inspection team

David Storrie, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Wiznitz Cheder is an Orthodox Jewish primary school for boys. It opened in January 2011. The school provides Jewish studies and a secular education for local Orthodox Jewish communities. It aims to assist every learner to reach his potential and to ‘develop respect for the environment and an understanding of the world in which we live’.  The school is located in a large Victorian building in the centre of Stamford Hill, in the London Borough of Hackney.  There are currently 119 pupils on roll, between the ages of 3 and 13. The early years provision has two classrooms located in the basement of the school. Emergency inspection: Wiznitz Cheder School, 26 May 2016 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 137809 Inspection number 10020335 DfE registration number 204/6004

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School details

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 Orthodox Jewish primary School status Independent school Age range of pupils 3–13 Gender of pupils Boys Number of pupils on the school roll 119 Proprietor Viznitz Limited Chair Michael Rosenberg Headteacher Rabbi Pesach Akiva Taub Date of previous school inspection 5 December 2012 Annual fees (day pupils) £0 (voluntary donation) Telephone number 0208 809 9513 Email address admin@viznitzcheder.co.uk Emergency inspection: Wiznitz Cheder School, 26 May 2016 5 of 5

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School details

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

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.

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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

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

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 .

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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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