Tendean Limited

Name of lead inspector: Sambit Sen, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Arquen House 4–6 Spicer Street St Albans AL3 4PQ Monitoring visit: Tendean Limited, 24–25 July 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

Tendean Limited is a private training provider which operates mainly in London. It operates within the construction sector, specialising primarily in highway maintenance training. It started providing directly funded apprenticeships in March 2018. Currently there are 30 apprentices, most of whom are on framework apprenticeships. These include level 2 qualifications in highway maintenance, team leading and plumbing and team leader/manager at level 3.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear strategy to specialise in providing apprenticeships within the construction sector and specifically in highway maintenance. They work effectively with their employers to design customised apprenticeships. In most cases apprentices carry out additional optional training to prepare them effectively for their industries. For example, once the highway maintenance apprentices complete their training, they complete an additional five-day street-works course. This helps them to attain their ‘street-work’ card, which they need to become fully qualified street-work specialists.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers recruit qualified and specialist staff who have current industry knowledge and experience to provide training. Where relevant they use employers’ own staff to enhance training for the apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Staff recruit apprentices who are new to the sector and meet the requirements of an apprenticeship. This ensures that the apprentices gain significant knowledge, skills and behaviours during the qualification. Leaders and managers are closely involved in the recruitment process with the employer. Monitoring visit: Tendean Limited, 24–25 July 2019 Leaders and managers communicate effectively the requirements of the end-point assessment to their employers and apprentices. This is done at induction and frequently during progress update meetings.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers track and monitor the performance of apprentices in detail. They work closely with the highway maintenance employer to ensure that the performance on the apprenticeship programme is updated regularly as part of the monthly performance management meetings that the employer has with their apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have yet to ensure that assessors train apprentices fully on how British values have an impact on their lives and work.

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Reasonable progress

Currently, the provider has no structured external governance. However, leaders have recently recruited external consultants to challenge and support them.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop new and significant knowledge, skills and behaviours to benefit their employers’ businesses. They are active and valued members of their teams. For example, apprentices on the team leading apprenticeship learn different ways of handling conflict, can self-reflect on their own behaviour as managers under pressure, and have gained ideas on how to motivate their teams beyond financial rewards.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices make good progress in their learning. They are supported effectively when they fall behind, for example through one-to-one and additional assessment sessions.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors prepare apprentices adequately for their end-point assessments. They complete several practice tests and practical assessments to prepare them for the expectations of these examinations. Most assessors provide feedback on apprentices’ work that is clear, concise and developmental.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices develop good English and mathematics skills. They receive individualised training to support them. Staff use a good range of examples from the vocational sector that the apprentices work in, so they can apply their skills to their work.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices benefit from high-quality training and are confident about their future employment prospects. They recognise clearly the knowledge, skills and behaviours they gain and how it links directly to their roles and responsibilities at work. Apprentices benefit from the expertise and experience of their assessors and the support they receive from them.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors do not always assess adequately apprentices’ vocational starting points. For example, they do not always establish prior knowledge that apprentices come with on the apprenticeship programme. Monitoring visit: Tendean Limited, 24–25 July 2019

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Reasonable progress

The provider has a fully qualified designated safeguarding officer. Safeguarding policies and procedures are appropriate and up to date. All staff are fully trained on safeguarding. Apprentices feel safe at their workplace and they know who to contact in case of any issues.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that new staff are suitable to work with their apprentices. This includes relevant pre-employment checks before new staff start their jobs.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive appropriate and relevant safeguarding training at induction and during progress-review discussions. Apprentices learn about bullying and harassment and the use of appropriate language at their workplace. In addition, most employers offer additional training on safeguarding. Monitoring visit: Tendean Limited, 24–25 July 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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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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