The Deenway Montessori School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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The Deenway Montessori School 3–5 Sidmouth Street, Reading RG1 4QZ

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  At the last standard inspection, safeguarding was judged to be effective and all aspects of paragraphs 7 and 32 were found to be met.  The safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website and complies with current guidelines. Arrangements to safeguard pupils remain effective. Recruitment checks for staff are carried out diligently and in a timely manner. The single central record of checks on adults meets requirements. Pupils who talked to the inspector feel safe in school and know what to do and who to talk to if they have concerns. These independent school standards (the standards) continue to be met. Paragraphs 11 and 12  At the last standard inspection, it was found that leaders had not acted quickly enough to address issues relating to fire safety in the school. Additionally, some areas of the premises were in a poor state of repair. For example, carpets were worn and created trip

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Main inspection findings

hazards.  Since the last inspection, leaders have fully addressed the specific areas of concern linked to the welfare, health and safety of pupils and staff. The fire alarm system has been serviced by an external contractor. A new emergency lighting system has been fitted. Additional new fire extinguishers are available in key points of the school.  A full fire risk assessment conducted by an external company continues to be in place. Additional ongoing work linked to the latest risk assessment carried out since the last standard inspection is scheduled to be undertaken during August.  Other aspects linked to health and safety have been revisited and addressed. Legionella testing is in place. A full electrical survey has been completed by an external company.  Much of the school has been redecorated since the last inspection. New high-quality flooring has been laid in classrooms, stairwells, landings and other communal spaces.

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Main inspection findings

The school environment is bright and appears to be well cared for.  These standards are now met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  At the last standard inspection, it was found that leaders had not ensured that the school’s premises and accommodation were maintained to an acceptable standard. The issues identified related to fire safety and flooring.  Leaders have fully addressed the shortcomings relating to the premises and accommodation at the school. This standard is now met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(b)  At the last standard inspection, it was found that leaders had not acted quickly enough to address issues relating to fire safety and other aspects of welfare, health and safety at the school. Additionally, qualitative issues were raised about aspects of the curriculum (though the quality of education was judged to be good) and leaders’ work to form an

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Main inspection findings

advisory committee that was still in an early stage of development.  Leaders have acted quickly to address the problems identified with welfare, health and safety at the school. Paragraphs 11 and 12 of part 3 are now met. Safeguarding continues to be given a high priority. Paragraph 7 continues to be met.  Although still in its early stages, the work of what is known as the executive element of the advisory board has been key to the rapid changes and improvements made to the fabric of the school, not least in ensuring that the standards in part 3 checked during this inspection are now fully met.  The headteacher, who is the sole director of the proprietor company, has a clear vision of how the advisory board will develop over time. The model is unique in the way that it will support and challenge leaders across the school. This is not a traditional model of governance. However, the impact of the challenge and support for leaders in addressing

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Main inspection findings

the unmet standards identified at the last inspection is clear to see.  Leaders have also worked to improve the qualitative element linked to ensuring that the curriculum in the senior phase of the school is fully fit for purpose. Leaders have reviewed curriculum plans to strengthen the way that key knowledge is taught. This is the case across all curriculum subjects.  These standards are now 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

 11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.

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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.

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £4,710 to £5,700

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 1 to 3 November 2022

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Information about this school

 For primary-age children, this is a Montessori school, led by Montessori principles and practice, following the training and guidance of the Association Montessori Internationale. From the age of 11, pupils follow a Liberal Arts curriculum.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place in November 2022. There have been no monitoring visits since then.  This is an Islamic school.  Currently, there are no pupils in the school with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The school does not currently use any 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.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement, with unmet independent school standards at its last standard inspection in November 2022. As a result, the proprietor was required to produce a statutory action plan by the Department for Education (DfE) on 20 December 2022. The action plan was assessed by Ofsted on 23 March 2023 and subsequently found to be acceptable by the DfE on 16 May 2023.  The inspector held a range of meetings with the headteacher, who is the sole director of the proprietor company. He also met with the senior school leader and the designated

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Information about this inspection

safeguarding lead.  The inspector met with a representative group of pupils to gain their views about the school.  The inspector toured the school site, including visiting classrooms and other communal areas.  The inspector considered a range of policies, plans and other documentation linked to safeguarding and the welfare, health and safety of pupils and staff. Records relating to the work of the advisory board were taken into consideration. The inspector also reviewed the school’s single central record.

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Inspection team

Clive Close, lead inspector His 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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