Moor Training Limited

Moor Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Lyn Bourne, Ofsted Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Unit 1 Barowe House Beardown Road Exeter Road Industrial Estate Okehampton EX20 1UA Monitoring visit: Moor Training Limited, 13–14 March 2019

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Context and focus of visit

From October 2018, Ofsted undertook to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision which began to be funded from April 2017 or after by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and/or the apprenticeship levy. This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of those arrangements and as outlined in the ‘Further education and skills inspection handbook’, especially the sections entitled ‘Providers newly directly funded to deliver apprenticeship training provision’ and ‘Monitoring visits’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Moor Training Limited (Moor Training) provides apprenticeships in plumbing and heating, and gas engineering. Moor Training started training apprentices as a subcontractor in 2016 and gained its own contract to deliver apprenticeships funded through the apprenticeship levy in April 2017. Currently all apprentices, except one, are employed by one specialist plumbing and heating employer, which also owns Moor Training. All apprentices are aged 18 and over.

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Context and focus of visit

Moor Training currently has 44 levy-funded apprentices. Thirty-eight apprentices are studying plumbing and heating frameworks, 26 at level 2 and the rest at level 3. A further six apprentices are on the level 3 gas engineering standards apprenticeship. All apprentices attend off-the-job training at Moor Training workshops for an intensive three-week period, three times a year.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have insufficient knowledge to develop and provide a fully successful apprenticeship programme. Managers do not evaluate the quality of on- and off-the-job training accurately because they do not know how to do so. The lack of useful quality assurance systems, including the analysis of available data, hinders managers’ ability to know what changes to make to improve the quality of training or expand their provision as planned.

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Insufficient progress

Managers do not have access to accurate information on apprentices, such as start dates, withdrawals from training, and numbers of apprentices who achieve their apprenticeships. As a result, managers do not have a good oversight of provision to hold staff accountable or identify improvements. Monitoring visit: Moor Training Limited, 13–14 March 2019 Apprentices complete assessments at the beginning of their programme so that staff can identify their English and mathematics knowledge and current skills in plumbing and heating. However, staff do not use this information to plan individual training programmes for apprentices. For example, apprentices enrolled at the same time are given the same amount of time to complete their apprenticeship regardless of their current level of knowledge and skills, or what qualifications they need to achieve.

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Insufficient progress

Managers have not ensured that apprentices have access to enough training and support to develop their skills and knowledge in English, mathematics and information and communication technology (ICT). Vocational assessors direct apprentices to appropriate online learning in these subjects but do not monitor their progress to know how well apprentices are developing these skills. Too many apprentices do not achieve their English, mathematics and ICT qualifications at the first attempt. The few apprentices who are due to complete their apprenticeships soon have not yet achieved their functional skills.

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Insufficient progress

Staff carry out thorough apprentice recruitment and selection jointly with the main employer. Consequently, those enrolled are highly motivated to achieve and secure sustained employment in the construction industry. Almost all apprentices join the programme with no prior experience in plumbing and heating; they quickly gain skills and knowledge that enable them to work on-site effectively.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and staff are knowledgeable about the construction industry. Assessors are experienced plumbing and heating, and gas engineers. Managers support them to stay up-to-date with industry changes and requirements, for example by attending awarding body updates and completing short qualifications including an awareness of anxiety and dyslexia. Assessors provide good practical and theory training in plumbing and heating so that apprentices make rapid progress in developing their skills and knowledge. As a result, apprentices contribute well to their employers’ business. For example, level 2 plumbing and heating apprentices decrease the time taken to run copper pipe across a room from one day to 30 minutes.

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Reasonable progress

Moor Training provides apprentices with useful vocational training that allows them to make rapid progress in the development of skills and knowledge consistent with industry and employers’ standards. Apprentices are very keen to learn and express their knowledge well, using industry terms and phrases accurately and in the context of their work. For example, level 3 gas engineering apprentices have a deep understanding of the composition and functions of combi boilers. Monitoring visit: Moor Training Limited, 13–14 March 2019 However, staff do not develop apprentices’ English, mathematics and ICT skills well enough. Assessors do not encourage apprentices to develop these skills beyond the required level of the apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop good plumbing, heating and gas engineering skills and knowledge because of well-designed off-the-job training. Managers keep class sizes deliberately small to allow individual coaching for apprentices to gain skills and knowledge in the workshops. Apprentices benefit from using industry standard workshops and equipment during their off-the-job training. End point assessment arrangements are in place for those apprentices on standards and they are aware of the requirements that they need to meet. Staff meet weekly to monitor the progress of apprentices in achieving units of their qualification. They are aware of those apprentices not achieving quickly enough and put interventions in place to help them catch up. Consequently, most apprentices achieve their apprenticeship in the planned time.

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Reasonable progress

Employers value their apprentices highly and help them develop work skills needed to complete their apprenticeship successfully. For example, almost all apprentices benefit from individual mentoring and support from a lead plumber. The lead plumbers and assessors regularly review apprentice progress and adjust working tasks to fit the apprentice’s training and development requirements. As a result, apprentices make rapid progress in their skills and knowledge. For example, after eight months’ training and mentoring, apprentices can fully complete the installation of a bathroom suite in new housing developments while meeting industry standards and timescales.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have clear progression plans that lead to sustainable careers and their progress is accelerated by their high aspirations and determination to do well. A high proportion of the small number of apprentices who completed a level 2 apprenticeship last year have gone on to study at level 3, secured more responsibilities at work and increased their salaries.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have a well-developed understanding of equality and can identify the risks and signs of radicalisation because their assessors discuss these topics with them regularly. However, other important topical issues which can affect young people, such as increased knife crime and mental health resilience, are not discussed with them.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not have sufficient safeguarding knowledge to set up effective safeguarding requirements. Those with designated safeguarding roles have not received appropriate training, are unaware of updated guidance and unable to provide regular updates to staff. Managers have not undertaken any form of Monitoring visit: Moor Training Limited, 13–14 March 2019 ‘Prevent’ risk assessment and have not established links to external agencies for support and guidance. As a result, leaders and managers do not have a clear understanding of the safeguarding issues and concerns that apprentices may experience. They have not identified the safeguarding risks to their apprentices, and do not have appropriate processes in place to support apprentices who may need help or report concerns.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices’ knowledge and understanding of health and safety and safe working practices are good. Apprentices feel safe in the training workshops and in their workplace and know how to report any concerns. However, assessors do not provide sufficient information on how to stay safe online, so apprentices’ knowledge is under developed.

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Insufficient progress

Assessors liaise with apprentices regularly and develop professional, trusting relationships. Assessors check on apprentices’ welfare and concerns they may have. However, there is insufficient monitoring of actions taken to know if issues are resolved, for example when supporting apprentices with anxiety and depression.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers conduct appropriate checks on new staff prior to appointment. Monitoring visit: Moor Training Limited, 13–14 March 2019 the 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 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . Learner View Learner View is a website where learners can tell Ofsted what they think about their college or provider. They can also see what other learners think about them too. To find out more go to www.learnerview.ofsted.gov.uk .

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Insufficient progress

Employer View Employer View is a website where employers can tell Ofsted what they think about their employees’ college or provider. They can also see what other employers think about them too. To find out more go to www.employerview.ofsted.gov.uk .

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regulates and inspects to 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. 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

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the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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

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