Darul Madinah

School material change inspection report

p.1

Darul Madinah 50 Darvills Lane, Slough SL1 2PH

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7(a), 7(b),  The school has a positive safeguarding culture. Inspectors judged this to be effective at the last standard inspection. Regular training ensures that staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. The designated safeguarding lead routinely checks staff’s safeguarding knowledge. This keeps safeguarding high on the school’s agenda.  Safeguarding leaders prioritise the welfare, health and safety of pupils and staff. The school has secure systems in place to record and escalate safeguarding concerns. Staff know how to recognise when pupils may be at risk of harm. The understand how to refer any concerns they may have and how to assure themselves that appropriate action has been taken.  The school’s safeguarding policy is up to date and takes current statutory guidance into account. Paragraphs 11, 12, 15 and 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  The school has a comprehensive health and safety policy. This ensures that the school

p.1

Main inspection findings

complies with relevant health and safety laws. Regular health and safety checks ensure that the building and facilities are well maintained and fit for purpose.  The school complies fully with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The site displays clear fire signage. This includes evacuation procedures, locations of fire exits and assembly points. Detailed records show that school staff check fire equipment regularly. In addition, records show that all fire equipment is inspected annually and that fire evacuation drills take place regularly.  The school ensures high levels of supervision. Pupils are supervised appropriately throughout the school day, including when they are moving around the building. The school has employed well-qualified staff. Pupils benefit also from specialist teachers for some aspects of the curriculum. The school has ample staff to meet the needs of an additional 16 pupils.

p.1

Main inspection findings

 The school has produced a wide range of appropriate written risk assessments. These are underpinned by an effective risk assessment policy. School leaders review risk assessments when necessary to ensure that they remain up to date and fit for purpose.  The independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(c) to 21(7)(b)  The proprietor ensures that the school carries out all appropriate recruitment checks on adults who work with pupils in the school. This ensures that adults are safe to work with children.  The school maintains an appropriate single central record of these recruitment checks. This record contains all the necessary evidence of the different checks the school has

p.2

Main inspection findings

completed.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1) to 23(1)(b), 24(1) to 24(2), 25 to 29(1)(b)  The school premises consist of a main school building which houses early years, key stage 1, a medical room, office and staff facilities. The four key stage 2 classrooms are located in a separate two storey block adjacent to the main school building.  The existing key stage 2 block provides spacious accommodation for current pupils. There is ample extra space in each room to accommodate four additional pupils. This can be achieved without the need to move existing furniture, cloakroom space or areas such as reading corners.  The main school building has suitable toilet facilities throughout with hot and cold running water for hand washing. In addition, each key stage 2 classroom has a single

p.2

Main inspection findings

pupil toilet. These are located in a room that can be secured from the inside and is intended for use by one pupil at a time. Each toilet has hot and cold water for hand washing. The temperature of the hot water does not pose a scalding risk.  Throughout the school, drinking water is provided in standalone units sited in easily accessible locations. These are provided by an external company who service the units termly. The drinking water is clearly labelled.  The school’s outdoor areas provide ample space for pupils to play and to take part in physical education. These areas are well maintained and secure.  The school has suitable accommodation for the short-term care of sick and injured pupils. All staff have appropriate first aid training.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)

p.2

Main inspection findings

 The proprietor and the headteacher demonstrate strong knowledge and skills appropriate to their roles in the school consistently. They understand the requirements of the independent school standards in full. They have clear, robust systems in place to ensure that the standards continue to be met.  The proprietor and the headteacher have carefully considered the impact of the proposed material change on the staff and pupils in the school. Leaders have made sure that the school’s accommodation and facilities are at least sufficient to support an additional 16 pupils.  School leaders have appropriate plans in place to ensure that increasing pupil numbers will not impact negatively on staff workload and well-being. For example, teachers already receive regular time to support their planning, preparation and assessment and this is planned to continue.  Designated safeguarding leaders work closely with staff to ensure a strong culture of

p.3

Main inspection findings

vigilance that keeps pupils safe.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor body pays close regard to the Equality Act 2010 through publishing an appropriate accessibility plan.  All requirements are likely to be met.

p.3

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.

p.4

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.

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 2 to 4 July 2024

p.5

recommendation

Age range of pupils 4 to 11 4 to 11 4 to 11

p.5

recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 114 130 130

p.5

School's current position School's proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 114 130

p.5

School's current position School's proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 0 0

p.6

School's current position School's proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 0

p.6

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 0

p.6

School's current position School's proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 10 10

p.6

School's current position School's proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

p.6

Information about this school

 Darul Madinah School is a co-educational independent day school. The school has an Islamic religious character.  A registered nursery, Darul Madinah Nursery School, operates from another part of the same building. The nursery has a separate entrance to the school and is inspected separately. The school and nursery have the same proprietor.  The school shares its site with a community centre run by the Pakistan Welfare Association.  The last standard inspection took place between 2 and 4 July 2024 when the school was judged to be good for overall effectiveness and all the standards were met. At that time the school received a material change inspection when it applied successfully to increase its roll to the current capacity of 114 pupils.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education because the proprietor has applied to make a change to the school’s registration. The proprietor wishes to increase the number of pupils on roll from 114 to 130 by increasing each key stage 2 class size by four pupils.  This was the first material change inspection in respect of this change that the school has applied to make.  The inspector met with the headteacher and the proprietor.  The inspector reviewed a range of documents prior to the inspection, including information provided on the school’s website.  The inspector checked the suitability of the school’s premises to accommodate the increase in pupil numbers and discussed this with leaders.  The inspector checked policies, records and documentation relating to the specific independent school standards in scope for this inspection, including the single central record and the safeguarding policy.

p.8

Inspection team

Sue Keeling, 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 .

p.8

Inspection team

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.

p.9

Inspection team

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 .

p.9

Inspection team

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.9

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 . 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.9

Inspection team

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

p.9

Inspection team

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

p.9