Catalyst Learning and Development Limited

Catalyst Learning and Development Limited Monitoring visit report

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Unit 45, The Wenta Business Centre 1 Electric Avenue Enfield Middlesex EN3 7XU Monitoring visit: Catalyst Learning and Development Limited, 16 April 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 and/or the apprenticeship levy. This monitoring visit was undertaken as the provider was judged to have made insufficient progress in ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements were in place for apprentices at the first monitoring visit on 6–7 February 2019.

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Context and focus of visit

Catalyst Learning and Development Limited is a private training provider that was established in 1988, specialising in commercial programmes in leadership and management. Catalyst gained a contract to provide apprenticeships and started training in September 2017. The company is based in Enfield and works with levy- paying employers across London. This is the first time that Catalyst has been involved with apprenticeship training.

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Context and focus of visit

Currently, 135 apprentices are on apprenticeship programmes. The majority follow team leader/supervisory and operations and departmental manager standards at levels 3 and 5, with smaller numbers on the recruitment consultant standard at level 3. All apprentices are over the age of 18 years.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have worked hard in the short space of time since the previous monitoring visit to develop a positive safeguarding culture. They have reviewed and updated their safeguarding policies and procedures. As a result, there are clear routes for coaches to follow should they be concerned about the welfare of apprentices, including who to contact out of office hours. Apprentices know who to turn to should they have a concern about their, or others’, welfare.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed a ‘Prevent’ duty action plan and now ensure that safeguarding, the ‘Prevent’ duty and the promotion of British values are regularly discussed with apprentices. They ensure that these discussions take place within the context of apprentices’ job roles. Consequently, apprentices understand how, for example, changes in behaviour within their team or by their peers could indicate a safeguarding concern, such as radicalisation or abuse. Through discussing issues such as respect and tolerance, apprentices consider how these relate to their own conduct in their role as managers. Monitoring visit: Catalyst Learning and Development Limited, 16 April 2019 Leaders and managers have reviewed the resources they use to develop apprentices’ understanding of safeguarding. For example, they have new online resources to support apprentices who are parents in order to develop their awareness of online

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Reasonable progress

grooming and how to keep their children safe online. Apprentices now have access to online ‘Prevent’ duty training, which a few have completed and found useful.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have undertaken a full assessment of existing staff suitability for their role and have completed Disclosure and Barring Service checks for the small number of staff who did not have these in place. They have in place pre-employment checks to ensure that any new staff are suitable for their role.

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Reasonable progress

Coaches and managers are dealing with any safeguarding concerns that apprentices have, such as mental health issues and struggling to complete tasks in a timely way due to personal circumstances. In the cases looked at, managers were liaising well with employers and apprentices to support them during their training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers are developing well the culture within which learning takes place. Apprentices find the coaches, leaders and managers to be very approachable and benefit from the caring environment that they create.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers do not record the low-level safeguarding concerns which they and coaches routinely deal with. This inhibits them in identifying any safeguarding themes that exist and subsequent training from which staff might benefit. Monitoring visit: Catalyst Learning and Development Limited, 16 April 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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Reasonable 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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Reasonable progress

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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Reasonable progress

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

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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

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