Daffodil Preparatory School

School material change inspection report

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  At the first material change inspection in July 2023, the school’s safeguarding policy had not been updated since January 2022. Leaders had a weak understanding of their statutory duties, including those found in the latest ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance.  This inspection found that the school’s safeguarding policy now reflects the latest statutory guidance and is published on the school’s website. Leaders with responsibility for safeguarding have significantly developed their understanding of national and local guidance. Plans for safely recruiting and training staff, managing concerns and documenting actions taken are now likely to be suitable.  The independent school standards (the standards) in these paragraphs are now met, and are likely to continue to be met, if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 11  The previous inspection found that the school’s health and safety policy had not been updated since the school was registered.  This inspection found that the policy now suitably reflects the changes to the school’s health and safety arrangements for the new premises.  This standard is now likely to be met if the material change is approved. Paragraph 12  The school’s arrangements for fire safety at the new premises are now likely to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. All the required fire safety certificates are now available. The fire alarm panel has been upgraded. All nine actions identified in the latest external fire risk assessment report have been completed. The weekly fire alarm checks and monthly checks on the emergency lighting are being completed and logged.  This standard is now likely to be met if the material change is approved. Paragraphs 16 to 16(b)

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Main inspection findings

 At the previous inspection, the school’s risk assessment policy was not available for inspection, and leaders had not completed an adequate risk assessment of the new premises.  This inspection found that leaders have written a suitable risk assessment policy. The written risk assessment of the premises is suitable. It considers how to mitigate the possible risks to users of the new building.  This standard is now likely to be met.  The standards checked in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  At the previous inspection, leaders were unable to provide the inspector with the single central record (SCR) of checks on adults.  This inspection confirmed that a suitable SCR is now in place. It includes all the required and dated checks for the very few adults currently involved in managing the school.  The standards checked in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The school’s new premises consist of a five-storey building currently used as a tuition centre, Excel Tutors, for pupils of secondary school age. Leaders intend to run Daffodil Preparatory School only from the new premises. The tuition centre will relocate to separate premises next door.  Since the previous inspection, leaders have taken suitable steps to adapt the premises for their proposed use as a primary school. There are now appropriate resources and furniture. The toilets and washing facilities on the first floor have been adapted to meet the needs of primary-aged pupils. Windows on the upper floors no longer open too widely.  The premises do not include any outdoor space. Leaders propose to use the local park for daily recreation and weekly physical education. This is likely to be appropriate. Leaders have suitably assessed these activities for the possible risks they present.

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Main inspection findings

 Arrangements for lighting, acoustics, drinking water, hot water and the medical room continue to be likely to be suitable.  The standards checked in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  At the previous inspection, there was a clear lack of leadership capacity. In particular, leaders had limited knowledge of the independent school standards and the associated statutory requirements with which independent schools must comply.  This inspection found leaders to have worked diligently to develop their knowledge of the standards and to ensure compliance with those identified as unlikely to be met in July 2023. Although there is some minor work to do to make policies clearer, leaders are now ready to realise their plans to recruit staff and admit a small number of pupils into Years 1 and 2 in early 2024.

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Main inspection findings

 All the standards checked during this inspection, including those in this part, are now met and are likely to continue to be met if the school’s application to relocate its main premises is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  At the previous inspection, leaders had not updated their accessibility plan to account for the new premises. They have now done so. The plan considers a range of appropriate actions to improve access to the curriculum, written information and the physical environment.  This requirement is now likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet 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 likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Email address info@daffodilprepschool.org.uk

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 11 No change Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 0/155 No change Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 0 Up to 155 Number of part-time pupils 0 No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 0 No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 No change

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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 No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 1 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 0 0

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Information about this school

 Daffodil Preparatory School is an independent primary day school with an Islamic ethos.  The school’s most recent inspection was a material change inspection in July 2023. Before this, the school’s only previous inspection was a pre-registration inspection in May 2022.  The school was registered as UK Community College (UKCC) on 4 August 2022. The proprietors changed the school’s name to Daffodil Preparatory School on 24 May 2023. Contrary to a mistake on the national schools database ‘Get Information about Schools’ (GIAS), the proprietors have not changed the school’s name again.  The school has never operated. No pupils are, or have ever been, on the school’s roll. The school has vacated its premises at 43 West Ham Lane, London E15 4PH and moved to proposed new premises at 161–163 Commercial Road, London E1 2DA. The proposed new premises consist of a five-storey building currently used as a tuition

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Information about this school

centre, Excel Tutors, for pupils of secondary school age. Leaders intend to operate only Daffodil Preparatory School from the new premises. The tuition centre will relocate to adjacent premises.  The school currently only employs the interim headteacher. The proprietors are in the process of recruiting a substantive headteacher and a teaching team. They intend to open to pupils in Years 1 and 2 only from late January 2024.  The school makes no use of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The DfE commissioned this inspection to consider the school’s application to change its main premises.  This was the second inspection to consider the school’s material change application.  The inspection was announced with two days’ notice.  The inspector considered whether some of the requirements in parts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the independent school standards are met, and are likely to continue to be met, if the material change is approved.  The inspector met with the interim headteacher and another senior member of staff. He toured the premises and spoke with the chair of the proprietor body by phone. He considered a range of evidence, including documents related to health and safety, safeguarding and risk assessment.

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Inspection team

James Waite, 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 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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