Freshfield Training Associates Ltd

Freshfield Training Associates Ltd Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Jai Sharda Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Office 38 Mansfield i-Centre Oakham Business Park Hamilton Way Mansfield NG18 5BR Monitoring visit: Freshfield Training Associates Ltd 26–27 June 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 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

Freshfield Training Associates Limited is an independent training provider based in Mansfield. It began delivering apprenticeships for levy-funded programmes in December 2018. At the time of the monitoring visit, 25 apprentices were on a level 3 apprenticeship in team leader/team supervisor programme. Seven were studying business administration at level 2 and 3 and six were on a level 2 apprenticeship in customer service. Four apprentices were on a level 2 warehousing programme. Most were on a standards-based apprenticeship and all were over 19.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders and managers ensure that apprenticeships are planned effectively and meet the requirements and principles of an apprenticeship. They ensure that employers understand and comply fully with the on- and off-the-job training requirements of an apprenticeship. This training includes useful classroom sessions, online learning and work-related projects.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers develop productive working relationships with employers. Managers check that employers can provide good-quality on-the-job training and experience for apprentices to enable them to achieve the relevant apprenticeship framework or standard. They also check carefully that employers are committed to allowing apprentices time away from the job for off-the-job training.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices gain substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to work in business administration, customer service and as team leaders. Managers monitor systematically apprentices’ off-the-job entitlement and take swift and effective action to rectify any shortfall. Monitoring visit: Freshfield Training Associates Ltd 26–27 June 2019 Managers recruit apprentices with integrity. They match apprenticeships with employers’ needs and job roles effectively. Assessors liaise with employers to ensure that apprentices gain the required work-related knowledge, skills and behaviours.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that tutors and assessors have the specialisms that they require to support apprentices to make good progress. Tutors and assessors are appropriately qualified. They use their experience and expertise effectively to support apprentices to progress and achieve.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders’ and managers’ process for recruiting apprentices is thorough. Apprentices receive relevant information about the apprenticeship during induction that includes what they will learn and the importance of end-point assessment. Consequently, most apprentices stay on the programme and complete it within the planned period.

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Reasonable progress

Managers use quality assurance processes effectively to improve tutors’ skills and to monitor apprentices’ progress. For example, the operations manager meets regularly with tutors and with each employer to evaluate apprentices’ progress. Any apprentice falling behind receives effective tailored support to help them catch up with their peers.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices participate in a range of planned off-the-job training activities that helps them to develop and apply new knowledge, skills and behaviours in their job role. For example, team leaders develop their understanding of different management and communication styles, which helps them to improve their team’s effectiveness.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices produce work of an appropriate standard. In a few cases, they produce work that exceeds the requirements of their programmes. Tutors mark work promptly and provide helpful feedback, though it is occasionally too positive, which limits its usefulness.

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Reasonable progress

Suitably qualified and experienced tutors provide effective off-the-job training. Apprentices benefit from group lessons, one-to-one coaching and individual coaching using prepared workbooks. Apprentices complete much of their study independently and employers provide them with time at work to complete their tasks. However, a few choose to do this work in their own time.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors make good use of the available information to recruit apprentices to a suitable apprenticeship programme at a level that matches their previous qualifications and attainment. As a result, apprentices make good progress from their starting points and achieve well. Monitoring visit: Freshfield Training Associates Ltd 26–27 June 2019 Apprentices who need to gain qualifications in English and mathematics are identified at the start of programmes and provided with online learning resources and past papers on which to practice. Apprentices rightly speak highly of the help that tutors provide in these subjects.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices are still some way from their end-point assessments. However, they understand what these assessments entail, including the opportunities they afford to gain merit and distinction grades.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors review apprentices’ progress each month to discuss the knowledge, skills and behaviours apprentices have gained. Tutors share the outcomes of reviews with apprentices’ managers. However, a few managers do not participate in these reviews. This reduces the ability of tutors and managers to exploit fully opportunities to coordinate on- and off-the-job training more effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Freshfields’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) has received suitable training in how to keep apprentices safe. The DSL implements the company’s policies and procedures effectively and ensures that these are regularly updated to reflect changes in safeguarding practices.

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Reasonable progress

The company’s managers ensure that new staff are safe to work with their apprentices. All staff are subject to pre-employment checks prior to starting work. Managers provide mandatory safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training and as a result staff know how to make a referral to the DSL if they have any concerns about apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices know how and to whom they should report any safeguarding concerns. They have a basic knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Tutors extend and reinforce apprentices’ knowledge and understanding of these topics during reviews. However, few apprentices can recall what they have learned. Monitoring visit: Freshfield Training Associates Ltd 26–27 June 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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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