Talmud Torah Tiferes Shlomo

School material change inspection report

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The school meets the independent school

standards relevant to the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy and child protection procedures have been updated and meet the most recent statutory guidance. The safeguarding policy, which takes into account the current guidance in ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2019), is available on the school’s website.  The designated safeguarding leader is highly knowledgeable and experienced in safeguarding and child protection issues. He and the deputy designated safeguarding lead have completed the appropriate level of training. Leaders ensure that the school’s system for record keeping is comprehensive and fit for purpose. Staff receive regular training updates on safeguarding and child protection so that they are clear about how to keep pupils safe.  Leaders have strong links with parents and carers and a range of external agencies to

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Main inspection findings

ensure pupils’ safety and welfare. Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe. All the pupils that spoke to the inspector reported that they always feel safe at school because there are a lot of staff around to look after them. Pupils also have access to the school’s independent ‘listener’ to help them if they have any concerns or worries. Paragraph 11  Leaders have a suitable health and safety policy in place that complies with all relevant requirements. Leaders ensure that there are regular checks on the building, inside and outside. They identify and deal with any potential risks. Staff receive relevant first-aid training. Leaders also make use of external audits on health and safety to improve their policies and procedures. Paragraph 12  The school has a fire safety policy and leaders ensure that fire risk assessments are carried out regularly. They use the professional service of external fire safety

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Main inspection findings

consultants to conduct audits to ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. There are relevant checks on the school’s fire safety equipment to ensure it is in good working order.  Fire safety notices, including emergency evacuation maps, are displayed around the school and classrooms. Emergency lighting and fire alarm systems are installed and there are sufficient smoke detectors around the building. Regular fire safety drills ensure that staff and pupils know what to do in the event of an emergency evacuation. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The school’s risk assessment policy is implemented and is regularly reviewed. Leaders are conducting further risk assessments on the new school site to minimise any potential risk. There are detailed and specific risk assessments for the school building and educational visits. Leaders also make use of an external professional company to

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Main inspection findings

conduct risk assessment audits to reduce any risks identified.  Leaders have ensured that the requirements for these paragraphs are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The new school premises are larger than the previous school building. There are two Reception classes and classes for each of the year groups. There is sufficient room to accommodate up to 30 children and pupils in each of the classrooms. There are also several smaller teaching spaces.  There is new furniture, and projectors and whiteboards in classrooms. Currently, air conditioning is being installed. All classrooms have smoke detectors and emergency lighting. All classrooms have window-opening restrictors. Classrooms are bright and airy with adequate lighting and have suitable acoustics.  There are sufficient toilets, which have been recently installed. There is an appropriate supply of hot and cold running water for washing and to ensure good hygiene. The hot water is controlled appropriately to avoid any scalding risk to pupils. There is a

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Main inspection findings

new showering facility for pupils to use after physical activities.  The new medical room is appropriately equipped. It is for the sole use of pupils who require medical attention and treatment and those who are sick or injured. The medical room has a bed, first-aid box and a washbasin with a supply of hot and cold water. It is next to a toilet.  All taps supply cold drinking water and are readily accessible to pupils.  There are two play areas for pupils. There is ongoing work to fully furnish the outdoor area for children in Reception Year.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  Governors and the proprietor have worked closely with senior leaders to ensure the new school building is fit for purpose. Leaders and governors are clear about their roles and responsibilities. They are ambitious for pupils. They have a secure

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Main inspection findings

understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement. Governors hold the headteacher to account through regular visits to the school and by asking appropriate questions during meetings.  The headteacher is highly knowledgeable and demonstrates strong leadership. He is supported well by other senior leaders. Leaders have viable action plans in place to bring about improvements since the previous inspection. For example, they have plans to broaden the curriculum by including science. Leaders have purchased resources in science and have plans to appoint a science specialist. Leaders have also implemented a new assessment system to improve teaching and learning. Leaders intend to increase the time allocated to the secular curriculum.  Leaders have ensured that the school’s child protection and safeguarding policy takes account of the current statutory requirements. All staff have undertaken appropriate

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Main inspection findings

training on child protection and safeguarding. Staff know the procedures to follow should they have a concern regarding a pupil’s welfare and safety. Leaders have established a strong culture of safeguarding.  The proprietor and senior leaders have a secure knowledge and understanding of the independent school standards and other requirements. They have ensured that all the relevant standards in relation to the requested material change are met.  Leaders have ensured that this standard is met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school’s accessibility plan meets requirements.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 31 October–2 November 2017

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 3 to 15 3 to 15 3 to 15

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 257 360 360

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Boys Boys Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 201 300

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 15 Not known

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 Not known

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 42 43

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 16 17

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 2 Not known

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Information about this school

 Talmud Torah Tiferes Shlomoh School is an independent Orthodox Jewish day school for boys in the London Borough of Barnet.  The school is registered for pupils between the ages of three and 15 years.  The school moved to its new site at 1 Danescroft Avenue, London NW4 2NB on 4 November 2019, as arranged with the Department for Education (DfE). The school premises and accommodation have been fully converted from a previous synagogue. It is larger than the previous school and will take in more pupils as the school grows.  The school does not use any off-site educational provision for pupils.  Pupils study Jewish religious studies for the majority of their time in school. This is taught in Yiddish and pupils also learn Hebrew. The secular curriculum is taught in English. The time for the secular studies varies across year groups.

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Information about this inspection

 This is the first inspection since the school’s previous inspection, which was a full standard inspection and took place on 31 October−2 November 2017.  This material change inspection was in relation to the school’s move to its new site at 1 Danescroft Avenue. The material change has already been implemented. The DfE requested paragraphs 11, 12, 16, 34 and all paragraphs in part 5 of the independent school standards to be considered. The school’s safeguarding policy and its implementation were also considered.  The inspector met with the headteacher and the designated safeguarding lead. The inspector met with the chair of governors, who is also the representative of the proprietor.  The inspector spoke informally with pupils at breaktime.  The inspector undertook a tour of the premises with the headteacher.  A short meeting was held with teachers to discuss their understanding of safeguarding

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Information about this inspection

and child protection procedures.  The inspector scrutinised a wide range of documentation, including: the school’s safeguarding policy and records; policies and procedures to ensure the welfare, health and safety of pupils; risk assessments, including the recent fire risk assessment and records of remedial action taken; and documentation relating to the overall maintenance of the premises. The school’s accessibility plan was checked. The inspector also checked the single central record for compliance.  There were no responses to the Ofsted online survey, Parent View.

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Inspection team

Avtar Sherri, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 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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Inspection team

Parent View 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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Inspection team

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/ofsted .

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Inspection team

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, further education and skills, 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.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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