The Japanese School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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The Japanese School 87 Creffield Road, Acton, London W3 9PU

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 12  At the time of the last inspection, leaders did not have effective systems in place for checking fire safety procedures and equipment. They did not ensure routine maintenance of fire prevention resources or respond swiftly to recommendations for improvements.  The post-inspection action plan indicates that leaders have revised their systems to ensure they have oversight of matters relating to the safety of the school site, including fire safety. They have commissioned several fire risk assessments and completed the recommended works. Leaders have clarified lines of responsibility and accountability to ensure that site safety is checked regularly and appropriate actions taken to mitigate any risks.  Leaders have ensured that external fire safety checks have been completed. They have responded swiftly to all the recommended actions. This included replacing

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Main inspection findings

emergency lighting, improving signage and defining escape routes clearly, and removing potential hazards.  Leaders have compiled a comprehensive list of site safety checks, including those relating to fire prevention. These checks are completed frequently by suitably qualified staff. More staff have received fire warden training. There are clear processes in place for the reporting and follow up of any reported risks.  Leaders have implemented all but one of their intended actions to ensure that the school complies with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The remaining area to be completed is the replacement of fire doors, which is due to take place in August 2022. In the meantime, leaders ensure that the existing fire doors are maintained and used properly.  The school’s child protection and safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website.  The school now meets the previously unmet requirements in this part.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor body has taken swift and effective action to ensure that previously unmet standards are now met. Leaders have worked with external specialists to improve their understanding of statutory requirements relating to site safety. New leaders have worked closely with experienced colleagues so that there has been continuity in leaders’ oversight and implementation of the action plan. Leaders’ revised systems for routine risk assessment and fire safety procedures are embedded and demonstrate commitment to ensure the independent school standards continue to be met.

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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 were checked during this inspection. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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School details

Website www.thejapaneseschool.ltd.uk/nihonjingakko/

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School details

Email address ron-nichi@thejapaneseschool.ltd.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 13 and 15 July 2021

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Information about this school

 The previous standard inspection was in July 2021.  Since the previous inspection, a new headteacher has been appointed. There is also a new school secretary who has oversight of matters relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils.  The school does not make use of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection. It was conducted without notice.  Since the school’s last standard inspection in July 2021, leaders were asked to submit an action plan. Ofsted judged the school’s action plan to be acceptable on 4 February 2022. The Department for Education requested that this first progress monitoring visit consider whether particular independent school standards contained within Part 3 and Part 8 are now met.  The inspector met with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the school secretary and the vice-chair of the proprietor board. The inspector also held a telephone

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Information about this inspection

conversation with the school’s external adviser.  The inspector toured the school site accompanied by school leaders. The tour included consideration of works completed as part of the implementation of leaders’ action plan. The inspector also scrutinised a wide range of school documents relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils, including fire risk assessments, records of regular site safety checks and staff training.

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Inspection team

Amanda Carter-Fraser, lead inspector Her Majesty’s 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 1231, 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

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 children looked after, 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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