Suffah Primary School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Suffah Primary School Hounslow Jamia Masjid, 367 Wellington Road South, Hounslow TW4 5HU

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5, 5(a), 5(b), 5(b)(v)  These independent school standards (the standards) were met at the previous two inspections. A safeguarding audit conducted by the local authority in October 2024 raised concerns about the school’s promotion of fundamental British values and different religions.  This inspection found that the school continues to promote British values and to teach pupils about the world beyond their community. Pupils learn about these aspects in various ways, such as through assemblies and their personal, social, health and economic education. Pupils are taught to respect differences between people, including those with different faiths and backgrounds. Events such as ‘culture day’ help pupils to appreciate their own and other people’s cultures.  These standards continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7b  These standards were not met at the previous two inspections. Inspectors found that the school’s safeguarding arrangements did not comply with statutory guidance. The designated safeguarding leader (DSL) was not a member of the school’s senior management team. Staff with designated safeguarding responsibilities did not ensure that accurate information was provided to local safeguarding agencies. Governors, who are also trustees of the proprietor body, did not have clear oversight of the school’s safeguarding effectiveness. The local authority’s safeguarding audit in October 2024 raised concerns about a number of safeguarding matters. These included lack of staff training, incomplete safeguarding records, and site security, notably the shared public entrance with the mosque which meant that the school was easily accessible.  When the school’s action plan was evaluated in November 2024, it was judged that the

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Main inspection findings

school’s plans to address the weaknesses in safeguarding were not sufficiently clear to ensure that the standards would be met. The proposed actions, success criteria and timescales were not precise.  At the time of this inspection, the proprietor body has made some progress and carried out part of its action plan. The new DSL is on the school’s senior management team. Staff have received suitable training in general safeguarding, most recently from the local authority. Staff spoke of their learning from this and the useful scenarios they discussed. They continue to receive safeguarding updates. Staff report concerns about pupils and record these in detail on the school’s electronic system. Leaders take timely and appropriate action when concerns are reported. They consult and share concerns with relevant local agencies. Leaders have made access to the school premises more secure. The school entrance has moved to a different part of the mosque. Staff control

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Main inspection findings

who enters the school and there are secure signing in procedures.  However, leaders have not addressed all the weaknesses in the school’s safeguarding arrangements. This includes many of the weaknesses identified in the local authority safeguarding audit. Leaders have not ensured that all leaders with safeguarding responsibilities are well trained and knowledgeable about safeguarding. These leaders do not have the expertise to carry out their roles effectively. Only the DSL has had appropriate training but is only in school a few days a week. The DSL is not always available, including during this inspection. While concerns about pupils are dealt with effectively, safeguarding records do not show dates and details of follow-up actions consistently. These are sometimes kept separately as leaders are unsure of where to log them. This means that safeguarding records do not show a clear chronology of incidents

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Main inspection findings

and actions taken. There is evidence that the school does not have an open safeguarding culture. Pupils do not typically feel comfortable or willing to talk to staff if they have any concerns or worries.  These standards remain unmet. Paragraph 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy is written in line with statutory guidance and is published on the school’s website.  This standard continues to be met. Paragraphs 11, 16 to 16(b)  These standards were met at the last progress monitoring inspection. The safeguarding audit conducted by the local authority in October 2024 highlighted concerns around site safety, risk assessment procedures and the cleanliness of the school.  This inspection found that leaders have an appropriate policy for health and safety, but it is not implemented effectively. The school site is not well maintained or kept clean. At times, dangerous materials are accessible to pupils. For example, hazardous cleaning

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Main inspection findings

products are kept within pupils’ reach in classrooms and a paper cutter was left on a classroom floor.  The proprietor has an appropriate risk assessment policy in place. In many aspects the school use risk assessments effectively. However, while leaders identify significant risks, they do not follow consistently their agreed procedures to mitigate against these risks. This is especially with regard to site safety. For example, the agreed procedures are not in place to keep pupils and staff safe when crossing the public car park to access the playground.  These standards are now not met. Paragraph 13  This standard was met at the previous inspection. The local authority safeguarding audit noted concerns about records for administering medicine. At this inspection, there is sufficient evidence to show that the school’s first aid policy is implemented effectively. For example, medical and accident logs show details of medicine administration, and

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Main inspection findings

that staff deal with any accidents appropriately. Pupils’ healthcare plans are updated in a timely manner. Staff have appropriate first aid training.  This standard continues to be met. Paragraph 15  At the time of the previous monitoring inspection, inspectors found that not all pupils attending the school were recorded on the admissions register. The school had also failed to provide the necessary admissions information to the local authority within required timescales.  In their action plan, leaders did not propose any actions to address this standard.  This inspection found that the admissions register is now maintained in line with statutory guidance. All pupils attending the school are recorded on the admissions register. Staff follow guidance and liaise appropriately with the local authority when adding to or removing any pupils from the school roll.  This standard is now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(e), 18(3), 21(1), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii)  At the previous inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that appropriate and timely checks were made to confirm the suitability of staff. Some members of staff had started working at the school without all the required employment checks having been made. The school’s single central record contained many inaccuracies. The local authority’s safeguarding audit noted some omissions on the single central record, including written notification of the checks made on agency staff and incomplete checks on volunteers.  The school’s action plan proposed that leaders would receive training on the required pre-employment checks. However, the proposed actions lacked detail, such as what action would be taken to ensure that references are obtained and verified for all staff

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Main inspection findings

including those who have worked abroad.  There are still occasions when overseas checks and right to work checks have not been completed prior to a person’s appointment. The proprietor has not enacted their plans to ensure that leaders are well trained in pre-recruitment checks and the requirements in statutory guidance.  The single central record in some respects is not an accurate reflection of the checks that have been made. For example, the electronic system flags up some checks that have not been done, but a review of staff files confirms that the checks are complete.  These standards remain not met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 18(2)(d), 19(2), 19(2)(a), 19(2)(a)(ii), 19(2)(c), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(5), 21(5)(c)  At the previous inspection, these standards were not met. Leaders have made some improvements with their pre-recruitment procedures. For agency staff, the school ensures that it follows statutory guidance for ensuring that the required checks have been completed. All staff, including volunteers, have identity checks and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks.  These standards are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  This standard was met at the previous two inspections. The safeguarding audit conducted by the local authority in October 2024 highlighted weaknesses in site maintenance that did not ensure the safety of pupils. This inspection found that these weaknesses still exist. The school premises are not maintained to a high standard. The school’s routine safety and maintenance checks are not implemented well enough. For example, the playground is littered, and metal fencing has fallen down, leaving open access to a potentially unsafe area. Pupils stated that they do not feel safe walking through the public car park nor when using the playground. Pupils spoke of feeling uncomfortable when members of the public at times watch them in the playground.  From safety logs, it is clear that staff report incidents around the site, such as potential hazards or facilities not functioning. These are sometimes not acted upon promptly. For

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Main inspection findings

example, a leak in the ceiling was not dealt with until several months after it was reported.  This standard is now not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  At the previous monitoring inspection, governors and school leaders did not demonstrate the required skills and knowledge to fulfil their responsibilities effectively, including for safeguarding.  The school’s action plan was evaluated by Ofsted and subsequently rejected by the Department for Education (DfE). The action plan lacked specific detail and leaders had not set out their proposed actions clearly. Leaders did not give sufficient information on how they intended to address each unmet standard. In addition, the plan did not set out how leaders proposed to monitor and evaluate the actions and their impact.  Since the previous inspection, the proprietor body has taken some suitable action. This includes providing additional general safeguarding training for staff, strengthening the systems for maintaining an accurate admissions register, and improving the single central

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Main inspection findings

record to address many previous omissions.  However, there are still unmet standards with regard to safeguarding. This is due to governors and the proprietor body lacking robust oversight and knowledge of statutory guidance. They have not carried out all the proposed actions in their action plan, such as regular audits of the single central record.  This inspection also identified further standards that are now not met. Leaders have not ensured that the school site is maintained to a suitable standard. While leaders have considered the safety and welfare risks to pupils, they have not implemented their policies for health and safety and risk assessment effectively.  In the last year, changes in leadership and a high turnover of staff have hindered some of the school’s work to address weaknesses. However, the proprietor body has not acted with sufficient urgency or rigour to address the unmet standards or to consistently meet

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Main inspection findings

all standards.  The standards in this part remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school has an appropriate accessibility plan in place.  This standard continues to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage 3.5, 3.9, 3.12, 3.14, 3.64, 3.76, 3.77  The progress monitoring inspection in May 2024 found weaknesses in the school’s processes for appointing suitable staff and ensuring that pre-employment checks were completed in line with statutory guidance, including in the early years. In addition, inspectors found that the school did not follow suitable procedures in regard to admission and attendance registers, including in the early years.  The action plan submitted by the school did not propose actions specific to these statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The action plan made no specific reference to the early years and plans to address safeguarding weaknesses across the school lacked detail.  This inspection found that there have been some improvements to safeguarding and safer recruitment practices. The school maintains records about children and shares

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Main inspection findings

information with parents and other agencies as appropriate.  However, there are still some required checks that have not been completed on a few staff prior to appointment. There are unmet standards in relation to safeguarding arrangements across the school. In addition, the weaknesses in site maintenance, health and safety procedures and risk assessment extend to the early years.  Most of these statutory requirements of the EYFS continue to be unmet and there are additional unmet requirements. With the exception of 3.77, which is now met, the statutory requirements of the EYFS that were not met at the last inspection remain unmet. In addition, requirements 3.64 and 3.76 are now 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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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

Proprietor Hounslow Jamia Masjid & Islamic Centre

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School details

Headteacher Kashif Nawaz (interim headteacher)

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School details

Email address office@suffahprimaryschool.co.uk

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Information about this school

 Suffah Primary School is an Islamic independent day school.  The main school premises, housing Years 1 to 6, is located on the first floor of Hounslow Jamia Masjid and Islamic Centre, 367 Wellington Road South, Hounslow TW4 5HU. The early years provision and school playground are located at the bottom of the mosque’s car park at the same address.  The school's most recent inspection was its first progress monitoring inspection in May 2024. This was conducted by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). The school’s last routine full inspection was conducted by ISI in November 2023.  The interim headteacher took up their post in September 2024.  The school does not 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.  In November 2023, ISI conducted a routine full inspection of the school. This inspection found that the school did not meet a number of the independent school standards nor the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS). At the school’s first progress monitoring inspection in May 2024, all of the previously unmet standards in Parts 1 and 6 were met, as well as some standards in Part 3. Unmet standards remained in Parts 3, 4 and 8.  The Department for Education (DfE) asked the proprietor body to submit an action plan. This was judged to be not acceptable by Ofsted in November 2024. The action plan was

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Information about this inspection

subsequently rejected by the DfE.  This was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection and was conducted without notice.  The inspection focused on the school’s progress against specific requirements within Parts 3, 4 and 8 as well as some safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS. The DfE also commissioned Ofsted to check compliance with specific requirements in Parts 2, 3, 5 and 6.  The interim headteacher was not available during the inspection. The inspector met with senior school leaders, including those with safeguarding responsibilities. The inspector toured the premises, met with two governors who are also trustees of the proprietor body and held discussions with staff and pupils. The inspector reviewed a range of documentation, especially in relation to safeguarding, health and safety and risk assessment.  There were no recent responses to Ofsted Parent View to consider as part of the

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Inspection team

Jude Wilson, 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 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 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 18(2) The standard in this paragraph is met if-

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

– 18(2)(c) the proprietor carries out appropriate checks to confirm in respect of each such person-

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

– 18(2)(c)(iii) the person's right to work in the United Kingdom; and

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

– 18(2)(e) in the case of any person for whom, by reason of that person living or having lived outside the United Kingdom, obtaining such a certificate is not sufficient to establish the person's suitability to work in a school, such further checks are made as the proprietor considers appropriate, having regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State; and

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 18(3) The checks referred to in sub-paragraphs (2)(c) and (except where sub-paragraph (4) applies) (2)(e) must be completed before a person's appointment.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 21(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor keeps a register which shows such of the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (3) to (7) as is applicable to the school in question.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 21(3) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is-

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

– 21(3)(a) in relation to each member of staff (“S”) appointed on or after 1 st May 2007, whether-

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

– 21(3)(a)(vii) a check of S's right to work in the United Kingdom was made; and

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

– 21(3)(a)(viii) checks were made pursuant to paragraph 18(2)(e),

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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

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

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that-

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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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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standards

 15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024.

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standards

 18(2)(d) the proprietor ensures that, where relevant to any such person, an enhanced criminal record check is made in respect of that person and an enhanced criminal record certificate is obtained before or as soon as practicable after that person's appointment;

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standards

 19(2)(a) a person offered for supply by an employment business to the school only begins to work at the school if the proprietor has received-

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standards

– 19(2)(a)(ii) a copy of any enhanced criminal record certificate obtained by an employment business before the person is due to begin work at the school;

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standards

 19(2)(c) before a person offered for supply by an employment business begins work at the school the person's identity is checked by the proprietor of the school (irrespective of any such check carried out by the employment business before the person was offered for supply);

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standards

– 21(3)(a)(iii) a check was made to establish whether S is subject to any direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction;

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standards

– 21(3)(a)(v) an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained in respect of S;

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standards

 21(5) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is, in relation to supply staff-

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standards

– 21(5)(c) where written notification has been received from the employment business in accordance with a contract or other arrangements referred to in paragraph 19(2)(d) that it has obtained an enhanced criminal record certificate, whether the employment business supplied a copy of the certificate to the school.

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Early Years Foundation Stage

 3.77 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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Early Years Foundation Stage

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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Early Years Foundation Stage

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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Early Years Foundation Stage

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.

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Early Years Foundation Stage

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Early Years Foundation Stage

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Early Years Foundation Stage

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