SPS Training Solutions Limited

Monitoring visit: Sps Training Solutions Limited, 19-20 June 2019 SPS Training Solutions Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Derrick Baughan, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Bowmans House Bessemer Drive Stevenage SG1 2DL Monitoring visit: Sps Training Solutions Limited, 19-20 June 2019

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Context and focus of visit

From March 2019, Ofsted undertook to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of adult learning provision which began to be funded from August 2017 or after by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. 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 ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly funded to deliver adult learning 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

SPS Training Solutions Limited (SPS) gained a contract to deliver adult education programmes in November 2017. It is based in Stevenage and has four training centres in Hertfordshire and the surrounding counties. In addition, it provides training in several community venues. SPS provides training predominantly for learners to develop skills needed to gain employment. Learners study courses in functional skills, English and mathematics, information and communications technology (ICT) and employability skills, and vocationally specific courses. At the time of inspection, SPS had 90 learners on programmes. SPS does not use subcontractors.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a very good focus on providing courses to help learners gain the skills and qualifications they need to find employment. Leaders use their prior experience as a subcontractor effectively to provide good-quality training. As a result, achievement rates are high.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders plan a very effective curriculum. They ensure that their provision is flexible to meet the varying needs of their learners and the regions in which they work. Leaders have ensured that they provide training in a range of appropriate locations.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders work successfully with partners and potential employers to ensure that courses provide learners with the skills they need to compete effectively for jobs. For example, in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus staff, leaders provide courses to help learners gain the skills required by a major food retailer to meet their recruitment demands. As a result, the proportion of learners who go into employment after their courses is high.

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Reasonable progress

Managers collect and analyse data about learners’ destinations to ensure that their provision is effective. Leaders use a destination data collection service to ensure that Monitoring visit: Sps Training Solutions Limited, 19-20 June 2019 they check learners’ destinations not only immediately after their course, but also over time. As a result, leaders have a very good knowledge of learners’ destinations and use this to improve further their planning of future courses.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders’ arrangements for quality assurance are effective. Staff collect evidence for self-assessment from a range of sources, including achievement data, attendance and punctuality data, and feedback from learners and partners. As a result, leaders know accurately the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers collect and analyse data about learners’ progress during their courses. They analyse achievement data closely to identify groups of learners who underachieve. As a result, few differences exist in the achievement of learners.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders used their experience efficiently to provide good resources for teaching. Tutors provide effective individual coaching, which helps learners to overcome their anxiety about education and make good progress in their learning. As a result, learners develop skills for employment and gain qualifications that enable them to compete successfully in the job market.

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Reasonable progress

Learners make good progress towards developing new knowledge, skills and behaviours. Tutors closely monitor this progress and help learners overcome any barriers to remaining in learning that they may have.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide good feedback to learners about the standard of their work and what they need to do to improve. Tutors work with learners to help them to apply the principles and theory of what they have learned to practical learning activities. Tutors provide effective initial course information, advice and guidance. As a result, learners are on the correct courses to meet their skills and development needs.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors and centre staff develop good relationships with learners and provide them with highly effective personal and emotional support. This enables learners to overcome their personal barriers to learning. As a result, they are well motivated, confident and optimistic about their career aspirations.

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Reasonable progress

In too many cases, managers do not ensure that learners on employability skills and vocational programmes receive an effective assessment of their initial starting points in English and mathematics. For example, learners on ICT courses are not assessed for their English skills. As a result, learners do not always develop and improve their literacy skills. Monitoring visit: Sps Training Solutions Limited, 19-20 June 2019

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that SPS meets its responsibilities to safeguard learners. They have established effective safe recruitment practices. Managers ensure that the designated safeguarding lead and staff are suitably trained. As a result, all staff know how to recognise and report safeguarding issues effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide effective training for learners. As a result, learners have a clear recall and understanding of safeguarding topics and the potential risks arising from radicalisation and extremism. Learners are safe and feel safe.

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Reasonable progress

Staff keep detailed records about safeguarding issues, which they deal with swiftly and effectively. They monitor learners during their programmes to identify any safeguarding issues that may occur, particularly in terms of the potential vulnerability of individual learners. Monitoring visit: Sps Training Solutions Limited, 19-20 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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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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