Hertfordshire Catering Limited

Hertfordshire Catering Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Christine Sherwin Ofsted Inspector

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Address:

Mundells Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire AL7 1FT Monitoring visit: Hertfordshire Catering Limited, 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

Hertfordshire Catering Limited began trading in 2013 and is wholly owned by Hertfordshire County Council. The company has had a direct contract to fund apprenticeship training since April 2017. At the time of the monitoring visit, 31 apprentices are working towards the standards-based hospitality team member apprenticeship at level 2. Subcontractors provide the functional skills training for the apprenticeship and the additional qualification in leadership and management.

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Insufficient progress

The provider has made insufficient progress because leaders do not ensure that they fulfil the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship. They do not assess apprentices’ English, mathematics and vocational knowledge and skills at the start of their programme. Leaders were very late in providing support to enable apprentices to improve their knowledge and skills in English and mathematics. As a result, no apprentices have achieved their apprenticeship by their planned end date. Most apprentices who are late in completing are still developing their English and mathematics to the level required to pass their functional skills examinations.

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Insufficient progress

Most apprentices do not develop new, substantial and occupationally specific knowledge, skills and behaviours. The majority are very experienced employees and can demonstrate a higher level of competency in cookery and hospitality than they require to complete their apprenticeship.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders plan off-the-job training for more than the required proportion of apprentices’ working hours. However, apprentices are unable to attend all this training. A few complete aspects of their training in their own time.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders’ arrangements to manage the work of subcontractors are weak. Their initial checks and contractual arrangements are not fit for purpose. Leaders do not check Monitoring visit: Hertfordshire Catering Limited, 26–27 June 2019 the quality of subcontractors’ training, or the quality of their own apprenticeship training, effectively.

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Insufficient progress

Directors have a good range of skills and experience to support and challenge senior leaders. However, they do not challenge leaders effectively about the quality of apprenticeship provision because they do not receive the information they need to do so. For example, directors are not provided with a clear overview of apprentices’ progress.

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Insufficient progress

Trainers have appropriate qualifications and experience. Leaders have invested significantly in dedicated training kitchens. Apprentices consolidate and develop their knowledge and skills in cooking and kitchen management in a calm environment which is conducive to learning.

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Insufficient progress

The provider has made insufficient progress because most apprentices are already highly skilled employees when they start their apprenticeship. Apprentices are already professionally competent beyond a level 2 apprenticeship. They learn relevant business and team-leading skills that help them to manage busy school kitchens effectively through the additional qualification in leadership and management, not through their apprenticeship qualification.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices make slow progress in completing their learning. Managers have been slow to collect evidence of their attainment in English and mathematics. This has delayed some apprentices in moving to complete their end-point assessment. A few apprentices have not been assessed and, as a result, have not yet completed their learning. Too many apprentices leave before completing their apprenticeship.

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Insufficient progress

Arrangements to review apprentices’ progress are unsatisfactory as staff do not review their overall progress with them. Consequently, most apprentices do not know when they are due to complete their apprenticeship or whether they are on track to complete on time.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices’ preparation for their end-point assessment is poor. They do not know enough about their assessment and what they will need to do to pass it. Most do not know that they can achieve their apprenticeship with pass or distinction grades. Monitoring visit: Hertfordshire Catering Limited, 26–27 June 2019

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to safeguard apprentices. The board of directors monitors these arrangements effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that they follow safe recruitment practices through a service level agreement with Hertfordshire County Council. This agreement also gives the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) access to support from the specialist staff of the local safeguarding board. Leaders have recognised the need for the DSL to have higher-level training.

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Reasonable progress

All staff receive appropriate training in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty at induction and know how to report concerns. They attend regular update training.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe. They use good health and safety practices when working. They discuss safeguarding with staff during induction and know how to report concerns. Apprentices know how to access a 24-hour well-being helpline. Apprentices’ understanding of e-safety and how to keep themselves safe from radicalisation and extremism is poor. Monitoring visit: Hertfordshire Catering Limited, 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

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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