AAA Training Solutions Limited

AAA Training and Recruitment Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Kathryn Rudd, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Unit 3 Bridgwater Court Oldmixon Crescent Weston-Super-Mare BS24 9AY Monitoring visit: AAA Training and Recruitment, 11–12 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

AAA Training and Recruitment (AAA) commenced delivery of directly funded apprenticeships in January 2018. It delivers standards-based apprenticeships in health and social care funded through the employer levy. Currently there are 598 apprentices all based with one national care employer. AAA subcontracts a small proportion of its delivery to this national employer.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have not ensured that the requirements of the apprenticeship programme are met. The majority of apprentices are not receiving their full entitlement to off-the-job training and, as a result, have to complete work in their own time.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not ensure that apprentices acquire substantial new skills and knowledge while on programme. They do not have an accurate oversight of the progress apprentices are making across and during their training. A new management information system, to enable better monitoring of apprentices’ access to training and the progress they are making, is being implemented. The majority of apprentices are not making expected progress, and none have yet achieved within their expected finish date. The previous limited availability of assessors, combined with a lack of support to address apprentices’ identified needs, slows their progress.

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Insufficient progress

Approximately a third of apprentices have left without achieving their qualifications. Leaders, managers and the employer have recently amended the enrolment process and introduced regular meetings to review progress; however, the impact of this is yet to be seen.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have not ensured that all apprentices understand the progress they are making, and what they need to do to improve the quality and standard of their work. Too many apprentices do not know the requirements of the Monitoring visit: AAA Training and Recruitment, 11–12 July 2019 apprenticeship programme, including the end-point assessment, or their entitlement to on- and off-the-job training.

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Insufficient progress

A new leadership team has recently been established which has identified the weaknesses in the provision of apprenticeships and has plans in place to remedy these. However, it is too early to see the impact of these changes.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have worked hard to develop their relationship with the employer and subcontractor. This has included visiting individual branches to improve local knowledge and, as a result, branch managers now understand the requirements of an apprenticeship programme.

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Insufficient progress

Too many apprentices do not develop new, substantial and occupationally specific knowledge, skills and behaviours. Assessors do not always use their knowledge of apprentices’ existing skills and knowledge effectively to plan their programmes. Assessors do not always plan and sequence training to ensure that apprentices develop the skills and knowledge they need in their individual job roles.

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Insufficient progress

Some apprentices have had their assessors changed several times and experienced long gaps in the delivery of their programmes. Some have had to repeat lost work. Too many learning and review sessions are cancelled. Consequently, the majority of apprentices do not make expected progress.

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Insufficient progress

Assessors do not adequately monitor apprentices’ progress or check their understanding of the learning programme. As a result, too many apprentices do not fully understand the requirements of their apprenticeship. They are often unclear about what they need to do to prepare for their final assessments or when they are due to finish. A new assessment team is implementing a new system to monitor apprentices’ progress but it is too early to judge the impact of this change.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices do not make adequate progress in developing their English and mathematics skills. Arrangements to support apprentices to develop these skills are weak and, as a result, too many have not achieved the required qualifications or developed the skills they need for future roles. For example, many apprentices are only given access to online resources, to be completed in their own time. Assessors do not routinely correct errors in apprentices’ work. Work is often not marked and limited feedback is given to apprentices to improve the quality of their work.

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Insufficient progress

The new leadership team recognises the previous failings in the programme and has recruited new staff and begun to implement a range of processes to improve provision. It is too early to see the full impact of this, but initial feedback from apprentices is positive. Monitoring visit: AAA Training and Recruitment, 11–12 July 2019

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers place a high priority on safeguarding apprentices. They have recently updated their policy and ensure that it is better understood by staff and apprentices. The safeguarding lead is appropriately trained and undertakes face-to- face induction training with all new staff.

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Reasonable progress

Human resources staff ensure that staff recruitment processes and procedures are safe and robust. All staff have had appropriate safer recruitment checks which are regularly updated in line with the policy.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices demonstrate that they are able to keep safe in the workplace. They can talk confidently about how to keep their clients safe. The provider takes reasonable action to meet the requirements of the ‘Prevent’ duty. However, assessors do not reinforce this sufficiently and, as a result, apprentices often have little recall of the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism. Monitoring visit: AAA Training and Recruitment, 11–12 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

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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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