Finchley and Acton Yochien School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Finchley and Acton Yochien School 6 Hendon Avenue, Finchley, London N3 1UE

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a) 2A(1), 2A(1)(a), 2A(1)(d) to 2A(1)(g)  At the previous standard inspection, leaders did not ensure that the school had a written policy for relationships education. The views of parents and carers had not been consulted in the development and review of the policy. No policy was published on the school website.  The school’s action plan proposed action to address the failings. The school planned to draft a policy, consult with parents and publish the policy on the school’s website. However, the action plan was not detailed enough and timescales were not carefully thought through.  Most of the previous failings have been addressed adequately. The school has devised and implemented a suitable relationships policy in line with government guidance. Parents were consulted when the policy was devised. Teaching about relationships is in line with the information contained in the policy. As a result, some paragraphs contained

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Main inspection findings

within this part are now met.  The policy is available for anyone who requests to see it. However, it was not published on the school’s website at the time of the progress monitoring inspection. Therefore, the school still does not meet all the previously unmet standards contained within this part because 2A(1)(g) is not met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7a and 7b, Early Years Foundation Stage Section 3; 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7  The previous inspection found a weak culture of safeguarding. For example, not everyone maintained an attitude of ‘it could happen here’. The safeguarding policy did not have regard to current statutory legislation. Safeguarding training for school staff was infrequent. Records of low-level safeguarding concerns were not well-organised.  In the school’s action plan, proposed actions to address these failings were mostly acceptable. The school planned to provide suitable safeguarding training for staff and

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Main inspection findings

leaders. The school planned to improve the organisation of safeguarding records. However, the proposed action plan did not set out measures to ensure that safeguarding information was shared with staff on an ongoing basis. There was no consideration given to how success would be measured.  This inspection found that the school has made some rapid improvements in this area. Conversely, other areas have not been adequately addressed.  The school arranged for more leaders to complete designated safeguarding leader training. School staff have received safeguarding training which mostly meets statutory requirements. Staff receive weekly safeguarding updates and reminders. As a result, staff have greater awareness of their safeguarding responsibilities. The culture of safeguarding is more rigorous than it was previously.  Low-level concerns are logged in a more organised manner. The actions leaders take to

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Main inspection findings

follow up any concerns are clear.  A new safeguarding policy has been written. However, some of the information contained in the policy is not correctly aligned with statutory requirements. Some of the key required aspects set out in the statutory guidance, ‘Keeping children safe in education’, are missing. The safeguarding policy has not been shared with staff or parents and is not published on the school’s website. As a result, the school still does not meet the previously unmet standards contained within this part. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2)  The previous standard inspection found that the school premises were suitably well maintained. There was a dedicated room for the care of pupils who are unwell or injured. At the time, the room was kept clean and tidy. Even though the room was used for other purposes, it was readily available to be used to care for and treat pupils.

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Main inspection findings

 During this inspection, the room was found to be unsuitable to treat pupils’ medical needs. The room was cluttered and mainly used for storage. The treatment bed used for the examination and short-term care of sick and injured pupils was stored behind boxes. The sink was not easily accessible. The room was not readily available to care for sick or injured pupils. Therefore, the school no longer meets all the standards contained within this part. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(b), 32(1)(c), 32(3), 32(3)(f)  The previous inspection found that some policies published on the school’s website did not include appropriate information in line with legal requirements and the independent school standards. As a result, parents were not provided with accurate information.  The proposed actions to address the failings did not include an appropriate timeframe for completion.  The school has updated the complaints procedure in line with the requirements of the

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Main inspection findings

standards. As a result, some standards contained within this part are now met.  The information contained within the safeguarding policy does not meet statutory guidance securely. For example, the policy does not make clear everyone’s roles and responsibilities, including those of the proprietor. The policy has not been made available to staff or parents and is not published on the school’s website.  The school does not meet all the standards contained within this part. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33, 33(f), 33(g), 33(h), 33(i), 33(i)(i), 33(i)(ii), 33(j), 33(j)(i)  The previous inspection found that school’s complaints procedure did not meet the requirements of the standards. The action plan submitted did not specifically address the unmet standards contained within this part.  The school has updated the complaints procedure. It now includes all the required information, in line with the standards. The complaints policy is available for parents to

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Main inspection findings

access on the school website.  The school now meets all the standards contained in this part. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools  Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 32(1)(c)  The previous standard inspection found that leaders did not fulfil their statutory duties and that some of the standards were not met.  The action plan did not address measures leaders intended to take to address the failings in sufficient detail. Some timescales were not appropriate.  The Department for Education expect all unmet standards to be rectified before the inspection. However, the improvements have not been rapid enough as some inaccuracies remain.  Some actions leaders have taken are appropriate. For example, leaders and the proprietor refreshed their safeguarding training. They rightly prioritised urgent safeguarding training for school staff.  The proprietor and leaders do not ensure the standards are met consistently and

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Main inspection findings

securely. For example, the standards under Part 7 were rectified during the inspection and there are now unmet standards under Part 5.  The standards contained within this part remain unmet.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. 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 1. Quality of education provided

– 2A(1)(a) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with primary education at the school is provided with relationships education; – 2A(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools; – 2A(1)(e) makes and keeps up to date a separate written statement of its policy with regard to the provision of education as required by each of paragraphs (a) and (b); and – 2A(1)(f) consults parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising a statement under sub-paragraph (e).

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(1)(b) the information specified in sub-paragraph (3) is made available to parents of pupils and parents of prospective pupils and, on request, to the Chief Inspector, the Secretary of State or an independent inspectorate;  32(3) The information specified in this sub-paragraph is– – 32(3)(f) details of the complaints procedure referred to in paragraph 33, and the number of complaints registered under the formal procedure during the preceding school year.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

 33 The standard about the manner in which complaints are handled is met if the proprietor ensures that a complaints procedure is drawn up and effectively implemented which deals with the handling of complaints from parents of pupils and which– – 33(f) where the parent is not satisfied with the response to the complaint made in accordance with sub-paragraph (e), makes provision for a hearing before a panel appointed by or on behalf of the proprietor and consisting of at least three people who were not directly involved in the matters detailed in the complaint; – 33(g) ensures that, where there is a panel hearing of a complaint, one panel member is independent of the management and running of the school; – 33(h) allows for a parent to attend and be accompanied at a panel hearing if they wish; – 33(i) provides for the panel to make findings and recommendations and stipulates that a copy of those findings and recommendations is—

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

– 33(i)(i) provided to the complainant and, where relevant, the person complained about; and – 33(i)(ii) available for inspection on the school premises by the proprietor and the head teacher; – 33(j) provides for a written record to be kept of all complaints that are made in accordance with sub-paragraph (e) and— – 33(j)(i) whether they are resolved following a formal procedure, or proceed to a panel hearing.

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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) £7,000 to £9,000

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 3 to 5 October 2023

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Information about this school

 This is a non-selective school for boys and girls up to age six years. The school has provision for two-year-olds. Most pupils attending the school are of Japanese heritage. The main language used in lessons is Japanese, and specialist teachers teach English as an additional language.  The school operates from two premises. The addresses are: 6 Hendon Avenue, London N3 1UE; and Playing Field, Queens Drive London W3 0HT.  The school does not make use of alternative provision.  The previous standard inspection of the school took place in October 2023.

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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 in October 2023.  The Department for Education required the school to submit a statutory action plan. Ofsted evaluated the action plan on 26 January 2024 and found it to be unsatisfactory. The Department for Education subsequently rejected the action plan.  This is the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to not comply with the independent school standards. The inspection was conducted without notice.  To check compliance with the independent school standards, the inspector spoke with the proprietor, headteacher, senior leaders, school staff and pupils. The inspector visited

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Information about this inspection

some classrooms and reviewed documentation, including some policies.

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Inspection team

Andrea Bedeau, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if- - 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work , which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively; and  2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor- – 2A(1)(g) publishes a copy of the statement on a website and provides a copy of the statement free of charge to anyone who asks for one.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(1) The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 32(1)(c) particulars of the arrangements for meeting the standard contained in paragraph 7 are published on the school’s internet website or, where no such website exists, are provided to parents on request;

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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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Early Years Foundation Stage

 3.3 Providers must take all necessary steps to keep children safe and well. The requirements in this section explain what early years providers must do to: • Safeguard children. • Ensure the adults who have contact with children are suitable. • Promote good health. • Support and understand behaviour. • Maintain records, policies, and procedures.

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Early Years Foundation Stage

 3.4In every setting, a practitioner must be designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children. The lead practitioner is responsible for liaison with local statutory children's services agencies, and with the LSP (Local Safeguarding Partners). All practitioners must be alert to any issues of concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere.

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Early Years Foundation Stage

 3.5 Providers must have and implement policies and procedures to keep children safe and meet EYFS requirements. Schools are not required to have separate policies to cover EYFS requirements provided the requirements are already met through an existing policy. Where providers are required to have policies and procedures as specified below, these policies and procedures should be recorded in writing. Policies and procedures should be in line with the guidance and procedures of the relevant LSP.

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Early Years Foundation Stage

 3.6 Safeguarding policies must include: • The action to be taken when there are safeguarding concerns about a child. • The action to be taken in the event of an allegation being made against the member of staff. • How mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices with imaging and sharing capabilities are used in the setting. Providers may find it helpful to read 'Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety considerations’.

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Early Years Foundation Stage

 3.7 If providers If providers have concerns about children's safety or welfare, they must immediately notify their local authority children's social care team, in line with local reporting procedures, and, in emergencies, the police. Providers must also take into account the government’s statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ and ‘Prevent duty guidance for England and Wales’. All schools are required to have regard to the government’s statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, and other childcare providers may also find it helpful to read this guidance.

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Early Years Foundation Stage

 3.24 Providers must train all staff to understand their safeguarding policy and procedures and ensure that all staff have up to date knowledge of safeguarding issues. Training made available by the provider must enable staff to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity, and to respond in a timely and appropriate way. These may include: • Significant changes in children's behaviour. • A decline in children’s general well-being. • Unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse or neglect. • Concerning comments from children. • Inappropriate behaviour from practitioners, or any other person working with the children. This could include inappropriate sexual comments; excessive oneto-one attention beyond what is required through their role; or inappropriate sharing of images. • Any reasons to suspect neglect or abuse outside the setting, for example in the child’s home or that a girl may have been subjected to (or is at

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Early Years Foundation Stage

risk of) female genital mutilation. Providers may find it helpful to read ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused: Advice for practitioners’.

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Early Years Foundation Stage

Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be met at this inspection

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including- - 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils; - 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility;  24(2) The accommodation provided under sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) may be used for other purposes (apart from teaching) provided it is always readily available to be used for the purposes set out in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b). 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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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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