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 1, 2A(1), 2A(1)(g)  At the previous standard inspection, there was no policy for relationships education in place.  The previous monitoring inspection found the school had devised a suitable relationships policy. The school appropriately consulted with parents and carers in its development and review. However, the school did not publish the policy on the website.  In the action plan, the school proposed that the policy would be published on the website by 2 September 2024.  The school has taken the necessary action to meet the standard. The policy is available for anyone who requests to see and is published on the school’s website.  The school now meets all the standards contained within this part. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 6, 7, to 7b, 32(1), 32(1)(c), Early Years Foundation Stage Section 3; 3.3, 3.4,

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Main inspection findings

3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.24  The previous standard inspection found a weak culture of safeguarding. The school did not ensure staff receive regular and appropriate safeguarding training. Records of low- level safeguarding concerns were not well-organised. The safeguarding policy did not have regard to current statutory legislation.  The previous monitoring visit found the school made some improvements to address the ineffective arrangements for safeguarding. However, other areas were not adequately addressed. For example, information contained in the new safeguarding policy was not correctly aligned with some of the areas set out in the ‘Keeping children safe in education’ statutory guidance document. The safeguarding policy was not shared with staff or parents. It was not published on the school’s website.  The action plan included pertinent arrangements to address the failings. It listed previous omissions to the policy which the school intended to address. The school then

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Main inspection findings

proposed to share the policy with parents and staff. Appropriate dates and topics for staff training were listed in line with the school’s safeguarding policy. The school proposed to enlist support from relevant local authorities and consultants to make sure requirements are met.  The contents of the safeguarding policy are aligned to the ‘Keeping children safe in education’ statutory guidance. It is published on the website. The school is currently updating the policy in line with the statutory updates for 2024. The school has scheduled staff training on 25 October 2024 to share the updated information.  During the inspection, the school rectified policy information about what staff should do if concerns arise about a member of staff.  All staff receive regular safeguarding training and reminders of their responsibilities. Staff know potential signs of abuse or maltreatment. The school logs, monitors and takes

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Main inspection findings

appropriate action if concerns arise. Action is taken in a timely manner. There is a secure safeguarding culture in place.  The standards contained within these parts are now met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 22, 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)( b), 24(2)  At the time of the standard inspection, all standards in this part were met. However, the subsequent monitoring inspection found the medical room was not readily available to care for sick or injured pupils. The room was cluttered and used for storage. The sink was not easily accessible and the treatment bed was stored behind boxes.  The action plan stated the failings would be rectified by 30 July 2024. The school identified a different space to be used for storage. The school planned to clean and maintain the medical room to an acceptable standard. The school intended to ensure the sink is always accessible. The plan named a member of staff on each school site to be

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Main inspection findings

responsible for maintaining the medical room. The school planned to carry out regular checks to ensure that the medical rooms are kept clean.  The medical room was checked during the inspection. It was clean and clear of clutter. The sink was easily accessible. The accommodation is readily available and suitable for the medical examination and treatment of pupils.  The standards contained within this paragraph are now met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 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 monitoring inspection found that the proprietor and leaders took some appropriate action to address failings. However, some standards remained unmet. The inspection found more unmet standards.  The action plan outlined clear dates for the leaders to improve their knowledge of the

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Main inspection findings

standards. The plan stated that leaders would seek support from an external educational consultant and the local authority to ensure they meet the statutory requirements. Leaders intended to carry out regular internal audits to ensure that the school consistently meets the standards. The school intended that the proprietor would monitor and support leaders in meeting the standards.  Leaders’ actions are effective to address previous failings. Leaders consult with the local authority and have commissioned support from a safeguarding consultancy service. This is to ensure statutory duties are met.  The school has restructured leaders’ roles and responsibilities. Leaders have delegated responsibilities to ensure the standards are met at each site. The proprietor and headteacher have appropriate oversight. They regularly monitor that the standards are met securely and consistently.  The standards contained within this part 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 1. Quality of education provided

 1 The standards about the quality of education provided at the school are those contained in this Part.  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

 6. The standards about the welfare, health and safety of pupils at the school are those contained in this Part.  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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 22. The standards about the premises of and accommodation at the school are those contained in this Part.  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; and – 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.  (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).

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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.  (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c) “well-being” means well-being within the meaning of section 10(2) of the Children Act 2004.

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Section 3 – The safeguarding and welfare requirements

 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.  3.4 In 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.  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.

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Section 3 – The safeguarding and welfare requirements

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.  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’.  3.7 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

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Section 3 – The safeguarding and welfare requirements

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.  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

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Section 3 – The safeguarding and welfare requirements

children. This could include inappropriate sexual comments; excessive one-to-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 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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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £7,000 to £9,000

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 3 to 5 October 2023

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Information about this school

 This is an independent day school for boys and girls aged two to age six years old. Most pupils attending the school are of Japanese heritage. The main language used in lessons is Japanese. 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. Most children are educated at the site on Queens Drive.  The previous standard inspection took place in October 2023. Following this, a monitoring inspection was carried out in May 2024.  Since the previous inspection, the school has appointed a headteacher for each school site. Ms Junko Tanabe is still the overall headteacher and leads the whole school.  The school does not use 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 is the second progress monitoring inspection of the school. A previous progress monitoring inspection was conducted in May 2024. It was carried out after the standard inspection in October 2023. The school was judged to not comply with the independent school standards.  The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. Ofsted reviewed the action plan in July 2024 and found it to be satisfactory. The DfE accepted the action plan in September 2024.  To check compliance with the independent school standards, the inspector spoke with

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Information about this inspection

the headteacher and other senior leaders. The inspector also spoke with some staff and pupils. The inspector visited some classes and reviewed documentation.  Due to extenuating circumstances, it was not possible to speak with the proprietor. Instead, the inspector held a meeting with a representative of the proprietor.

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Inspection team

Andrea Bedeau, 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

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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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