Peninim

Inspection of Peninim 37 Elmcroft Crescent, Barnet, London NW11 9TB

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years provision Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a friendly and supportive place to be. Children receive a warm welcome when they join the school in the early years. School staff form nurturing professional bonds with pupils. Pupils are happy and settle into school quickly.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils treat each other with consideration and respect. At breaktimes, they play games and engage in activities together and are careful of others around them, especially those who are younger. Pupils behave responsibly and compassionately.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Competitions and events such as ‘spell-a-thons’ and ‘read-a-thons’ are used to encourage pupils to learn important content and develop a love of learning. The school has high expectations for pupils’ achievement. Since the previous inspection, the school has improved the breadth and ambition of the curriculum. These developments have had a positive impact on pupils’ achievement and on what pupils know and are able to do. However, there is still some work to do to make sure the curriculum is routinely implemented as intended.

p.2

better?

Pupils learn a broad range of subjects in line with the breadth and ambition of the national curriculum. The curriculum in the early years helps children to learn knowledge and skills in line the statutory early years framework. For example, boys and girls in the provision for two-year-olds develop their spoken language through conversations, dressing up and role play. The school measures children’s starting points when they join the school. Many pupils are at the early stages of learning to speak English as an additional language when they start. The support which pupils receive helps them to quickly learn to speak and communicate in English confidently.

p.2

better?

Pupils acquire the knowledge and skills they need to learn to read. Phonics teaching takes place daily. Teaching is matched closely to pupils’ knowledge of phonics. Pupils read books in school and at home that are matched to their phonic knowledge. If pupils struggle with early reading, they receive additional teaching and reading practice to help them keep up.

p.2

better?

The school has identified the most important knowledge and skills for pupils to learn in different subjects. Content is sequenced appropriately from the early years onwards. For example, in the early years, children learn the names of colours and use them to create artwork. In Year 1 and beyond, pupils build on this early learning and learn about mixing colours together to make secondary colours, tints and shading. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learn the same curriculum as their peers. The school and external SEND professionals provide training and support for teaching staff. This helps them to identify quickly when a pupil may have SEND and make appropriate adaptations to help pupils learn well. Leaders consult with school staff regularly on issues that may impact their workload or well-being. Staff are of the view that their work does not place unnecessary burdens on them.

p.2

better?

18 to 20 June 2024 Sometimes, lesson activity choices and the content taught does not match the intended curriculum. Therefore, on some occasions, pupils are not taught the subject content that leaders intend pupils to learn. This leads to gaps in pupils’ knowledge, which are not addressed.

p.3

better?

The school provides pupils, parents and carers with relevant information about the importance of regular school attendance. Leaders monitor rates of attendance and punctuality. If concerns arise, the school works in partnership with parents to understand the reasons for absence and explore ways the school can provide support. Parents appreciate the collaborative approach the school takes. Pupils know what is expected of them. Lessons are rarely disrupted by inappropriate behaviour.

p.3

better?

Pupils are taught values and morals through Jewish studies sessions and in personal, social and health education (PSHE) lessons. The PSHE curriculum includes suitable age-appropriate teaching about healthy relationships. Pupils are taught online safety and key messages about road safety. The school teaches pupils about religions, cultures and traditions that are different to their own. Educational visits are used to complement learning in the curriculum. For example, visits to a dentist are used to help children in the early years learn about the importance of brushing teeth correctly.

p.3

better?

The proprietor body carries out its role effectively. The proprietor and leaders work together to make sure the independent school standards are met and that schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 are upheld.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

(Information for the school and proprietor)

 Sometimes, lesson activity choices and the content taught do not match the intended curriculum. Therefore, on some occasions, pupils are not taught the subject content intended, leading to gaps in their knowledge. Leaders must ensure the curriculum is implemented securely and consistently, and ensure that any gaps in knowledge are filled.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection. 18 to 20 June 2024 The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 18 to 20 June 2024

p.3

School details

Unique reference number 137502 DfE registration number 302/6001

p.5

School details

Inspection number 10286430 Type of school Other independent school

p.5

School details

School category School registered with a religious ethos

p.5

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £4,200 to £4,740

p.5

School details

Date of previous inspection 2 to 4 November 2021 18 to 20 June 2024

p.5

Information about this school

 This is an independent day school with an Orthodox Jewish ethos. The school is registered for 110 girls aged two to 11 years old. However, at the time of the inspection, the school admitted boys and girls to the pre-Nursery provision for two-year-olds and there were 113 pupils on the school roll. Therefore, the school is operating beyond its registration agreement on two counts.  During the inspection, the school wrote to the Department for Education to inform them that the school is operating beyond its registration agreement, to request a material change to admit boys to the pre-Nursery provision and to increase the capacity of the school to 120 pupils.  The school does not make use of alternative provision.

p.6

Information about this inspection

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

p.6

Information about this inspection

The school meets the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors held meetings with the headteacher, other senior leaders and the chair of the proprietor body.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics, art and PSHE. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, looked at curriculum plans, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also looked at curriculum plans and spoke to leaders about some other subjects.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and

p.6

Information about this inspection

considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  Inspectors reviewed documentation and toured the premises to check compliance with the independent school standards. 18 to 20 June 2024  Inspectors spoke with some parents and reviewed responses from parents and staff to Ofsted’s online surveys.

p.6

Inspection team

Andrea Bedeau, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

p.7

Inspection team

Rosemarie Kennedy Ofsted Inspector 18 to 20 June 2024 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, 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.

p.7

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection team

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 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 .

p.8

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection team

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8