Canto Learning Limited

Published date 16 February 2012 Inspection Number 385718 Unique reference number: 50992

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Name of lead inspector: Derrick Spragg HMI

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

South Wing Welton House Summerhouse Road Moulton Park Northampton NN3 6WD Telephone number: 01604 741150

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Focused monitoring visit report

Focused monitoring visit: CANTO Ltd,12 January 2012 1 of 4

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Context and focus of visit

CANTO Limited (Canto) is a not-for-profit limited company based in Northampton. Founded in 1992 to provide employment programmes, Canto now provides learning programmes for young people with a wide range of moderate to severe learning difficulties.

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Context and focus of visit

The previous inspection in January 2010 judged the overall effectiveness of the provision satisfactory. Since then Canto has introduced Foundation Learning to replace Entry to Employment (E2E). At the time of the focused monitoring visit 34 learners were participating in Foundation Learning funded through the Young People’s Learning Agency contract.

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progress

Self-assessment was judged satisfactory at the time of the previous inspection. The report was accurate and linked to an appropriate action plan. The views of stakeholders, including learners and staff, did not inform the self-assessment process sufficiently.

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Since then Canto managers have changed and improved their approach to self assessment and staff and learners are involved much more in the process. Staff are now familiar with the Common Inspection Framework and use it regularly and frequently during team meetings to review Canto’s activities. Learners contribute well through, for example, specifically planned life skills sessions that enable them to contribute to self- assessment effectively. A learners’ self-assessment report is produced that includes a range of good ideas and constructive views put forward by learners. Parents’, partners’ and employers’ views are collected, analysed and used well to inform self-assessment.

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The current self-assessment report evaluates Canto’s performance systematically against the Common Inspection Framework and is self-critical in its judgements. Data analysis is used to support a few of the judgements although in many areas, such as judging outcomes, more data analysis is required. The report has no clear summary evaluation and is too descriptive. An appropriate development plan results from self-assessment. Managers use the development plan effectively and have a very positive and constructive approach to quality improvement. Focused monitoring visit: CANTO Ltd,12 January 2012 2 of 4

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At the time of the previous inspection the proportion of learners who progressed from the E2E programme into further training, education or employment was satisfactory. Learners had insufficient opportunities to gain nationally recognised qualifications. In 2010/11 successful outcomes increased significantly and many more opportunities to gain nationally recognised qualifications were made available and taken by learners. In the final year of the E2E programme the proportion of learners who progressed into further training, education or employment improved by 16 percentage points to a high rate. The proportion of leavers who progressed into further training, education or employment from the Foundation Learning programme in 2010/11 was high. A high proportion of leavers achieved their learning objectives in that same year. The number of qualifications achieved by learners as a proportion of the total number of qualifications entered in 2010/11 was high. The proportion of

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learners achieving functional skills in Foundation Learning was high overall and in the case of maths and ICT very high. The proportion achieving level one qualifications was satisfactory overall.

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At the time of the previous inspection most learners had experienced work tasters of short duration. Few opportunities existed for longer periods of work experience to develop skills in a work environment. Since then Canto has been focused and persistent in its efforts to secure work-placements for their learners. As a key aspect of their quality development plan, Canto’s progress towards this initiative has been regularly monitored as part of the organisation’s quality assurance process. Staff support the search for work-placement opportunities and placements have been secured through formal and informal approaches to potential hosts. Recently learners have been given opportunities for work-placements in a range of organisations including a sports centre, coffee shop and with a childminder. Comprehensive risk- assessments are carried out on potential host organisations as part of Canto’s safeguarding procedures. As most work-placements are new, evaluation of the

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quality of learners’ experience has not yet taken place and some learners are still awaiting work-placement opportunities. Plans are well advanced for these learners to become involved in a business initiative, visiting neighbouring companies to promote retail products to give them the opportunity to interact in a workplace environment. Focused monitoring visit: CANTO Ltd,12 January 2012 3 of 4

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Teaching and learning were satisfactory at the previous inspection. However, ICT was not used sufficiently to enhance learning. Canto has since then refurbished its computer suite with updated computers and has increased the number of work stations. Networking of the computers within the ICT suite, and internet access, have improved opportunities for all staff to develop ICT programmes for their specific subjects and for learners to improve their research and networking skills. Printers are networked now to give learners improved access to their finished work. A range of specialist equipment to facilitate the use of computers is in place to remove potential barriers for learners. This equipment includes colour-coded computer keyboards , lower-case keyboards and speaking programmes for visually impaired learners. Inspectors saw good examples of the use of interactive white boards in numeracy classes and teaching and learning observation records clearly identify the increased

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use of ICT in most sessions. Regular tutor meetings include sharing good practice in the use of ICT for learning. However, progress in fully networking all the organisation’s computers and introducing broadband connectivity across the Canto premises has yet to be completed.

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Leadership and management were judged satisfactory at the time of the previous inspection. Canto did not set formal targets for learners’ outcomes. Since then Canto has introduced effective management information systems and uses targets more formally. At the time of the focused monitoring visit the organisation’s performance has improved in terms of measurable outcomes and targets are used in management meetings as part of performance review discussions. The management information system enables Canto to identify and measure performance and improvement. Managers set staff and team targets to improve performance and to increase learners’ achievements. Canto sets equality impact targets. Managers have high expectations although in terms of overall performance these are not defined specifically as targets. Canto’s development plan correctly identifies the need to develop a more formal strategic plan with measurable objectives and key

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Equality and diversity were judged satisfactory at the previous inspection. Management information systems did not enable Canto to monitor the performance of different groups of learners. Suitable management information is now available Focused monitoring visit: CANTO Ltd,12 January 2012 4 of 4

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and used effectively to analyse participation, achievement and progression by these different groups. Some gaps in performance between groups have been identified and an action plan is in place to reduce any significant ones. For example the different levels of achievement between males and females have been identified through monitoring and suitable actions are in place to improve the achievements made by male learners. Staff are involved in regular planning and review of the equality and diversity impact measures. It is too early to evaluate the overall impact of these actions.

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At the time of the previous inspection the engagement of users to support and promote improvement was satisfactory. However, employers and partners were not given sufficient formal opportunities to provide feedback or evaluation to improve the provision. Since then Canto has put in place appropriate formal arrangements to provide opportunities to gather and analyse feedback from employers and partners and has improved the way it does this with all its stakeholders. A reasonable rate of return is now achieved. Canto has designed feedback arrangements thoughtfully to reflect the different needs of the users, how best they may contribute to evaluation and where and when are the best times to collect them. Analysis of the returns is carried out carefully and useful feedback is obtained and acted on. Improvements have been made as a result. For example, the way attendance is reported has been changed and improved. Canto publishes its responses to feedback in its newsletter

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and discusses them in learner forums. Canto continues to review and improve the way it engages with users to promote improvement and has plans for further improving the way this is carried out. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. 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 .

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

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