Nova Payroll Management Services Limited

Nova Payroll Management Services Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Jacquie Brown Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

E14 Marquis Court Team Valley Trading Estate Gateshead NE11 0RU Monitoring visit: Nova Payroll Management Services Limited, 9–10 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 four themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Nova Payroll Management Services Limited operates under the trading name of Pin Point Training. It is based in Gateshead and was established in 2012. Since 2017, Pinpoint Training has supported 2,106 learners and apprentices to move into work and provided training for 330 employees in work, of whom 230 are apprentices. Currently, there are 19 apprentices enrolled on standards-based and framework- based programmes in warehousing, adult care, customer service, business administration and business management. Eight adult learners are enrolled on levels 1 and 2 functional skills English and mathematics courses. Adult learners who previously attended Pin Point Training were enrolled on employability courses at levels 1 and 2, focusing on progression to employment in areas such as food production, warehousing, engineering and manufacturing.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear strategy for developing their provision and meeting apprenticeship requirements . Managers ensure that apprentices have access to effective off-the-job training to develop new skills, knowledge and behaviours in areas such as warehousing, customer service and adult care. Managers provide apprentices who do not have level 2 qualifications in English and mathematics with the opportunity to develop these skills through enrolling on functional skills courses. Apprentices are making expected progress towards achieving their functional skills qualifications.

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Reasonable progress

Managers make sure that staff have appropriate qualifications and vocational expertise. Staff use their expertise and knowledge well to develop apprentices’ skills, knowledge and behaviours.

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Reasonable progress

Managers make effective use of feedback from apprentices to improve the quality of training. For example, apprentices commented that there was too much written work in classroom sessions. Managers responded by ensuring that tutors introduced a Monitoring visit: Nova Payroll Management Services Limited, 9–10 July 2019 wider range of learning activities, such as role play, group projects and online quizzes.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders were too slow to introduce processes to oversee the apprenticeship provision when it was initially introduced. As a result, apprentices did not make the expected progress. However, leaders and managers recognised this and now have an effective approach to quality assurance. As a result, they are able to identify issues and take prompt action to make improvements. For example, they have introduced an electronic system which enables staff to track apprentices’ progress. Staff provide feedback on progress to managers at fortnightly meetings. Managers monitor the performance of staff effectively through an appropriate performance management process.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers do not have effective enough governance arrangements in place to provide support and challenge to leaders and managers. They recognise this and are currently in the process of creating a formal governing body.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors accurately assess apprentices’ existing knowledge and skills at the start of the programme. They use this information effectively to plan learning to meet individual needs.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors support apprentices effectively to develop new skills, knowledge, understanding and valuable workplace behaviours. As a result, most apprentices improve their performance in their role and take on additional responsibilities. Assessors provide effective professional support to meet the individual needs of apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are clear about their career goals, which range from working in a warehouse to working in adult care. Staff provide good guidance to apprentices on further training and employment opportunities. Apprentices can identify how achieving their apprenticeship will help them to progress and develop their career. In a few instances, apprentices in customer service have gained permanent employment in advance of completion of their apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from the professional support that assessors provide and the arrangements to meet their individual needs. Assessors have frequent contact with apprentices and know them well. They monitor closely the progress that apprentices make. They provide effective feedback that identifies how apprentices can improve their work. As a result, apprentices make at least expected progress. Monitoring visit: Nova Payroll Management Services Limited, 9–10 July 2019 Apprentices’ written work in most areas of the provision is of an appropriate standard. However, the standard of written English produced by apprentices in warehousing occupations is not high enough.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop good skills for work that they are able to transfer to the workplace. Managers have developed productive working relationships with employers and work well with them to ensure that delivery arrangements meet apprenticeship requirements and apprentices’ individual needs.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have improved their adult learning provision significantly as a result of effective links with employers. They have worked closely with a local employer to adapt the curriculum so that it is responsive to employer need and to ensure that potential employees are appropriate for job roles. For example, they have introduced dexterity assessments and made appropriate changes to the English and mathematics curriculum.

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Reasonable progress

Most adult learners develop new knowledge and skills that help them move into employment in areas such as engineering, manufacturing and food production. A large number of adults are taking the first steps into agency work or temporary employment. However, too few learners have secured sustainable employment.

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Reasonable progress

Staff provide good guidance to learners before enrolling to ensure that learners join courses that will help them to meet their career aspirations. They accurately identify learners’ prior knowledge and qualifications at the start of the programme to ensure that the learning programme is suitable for them.

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Reasonable progress

Staff have good subject knowledge and industrial experience which they use effectively to help learners develop new skills. Consequently, learners make at least expected progress. Most learners who attend employability courses achieve their qualifications.

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Reasonable progress

On the warehousing course, tutors do not use information about learners’ starting points well enough to support learners with different levels of ability and experience. They place insufficient emphasis on improving learners’ English and mathematics skills. Monitoring visit: Nova Payroll Management Services Limited, 9–10 July 2019

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have implemented appropriate policies and procedures to safeguard apprentices and adult learners. Managers ensure that staff complete high- quality training and, as a result, staff have a thorough understanding of how to keep apprentices and adult learners safe. Leaders and managers ensure that staff are safe to work with apprentices and adults through a suitable safe recruitment process.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding officer (DSO) has a clear understanding of the requirements of the role. She has implemented suitable reporting procedures for safeguarding concerns. She is undertaking appropriate training and is being supported by an experienced DSO in another department.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices and adult learners complete effective training on safeguarding through induction and on their programmes. As a result, they know how to keep themselves safe and to whom they should report any safeguarding concerns. Apprentices and adult learners have a good understanding of health and safety in the workplace that they use to keep themselves safe. They have a basic understanding of the risks of radicalisation and extremism. Monitoring visit: Nova Payroll Management Services Limited, 9–10 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

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Reasonable progress

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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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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