Acorn Training Ltd

Acorn Training Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Julie Gibson, Ofsted Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

140 Brownhills Road Stoke-on-Trent ST6 4JU Monitoring visit: Acorn Training Limited, 16–17 July 2019

p.1

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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Acorn Training Limited, established in 2008, has been offering apprenticeships funded by the employer levy since January 2018. Most of the 109 apprentices currently with the provider are in health and social care at levels 2 and 3, with the remainder in business administration, customer service and management. Some 35 apprentices are on standards-based programmes. Adult learning provision currently consists of 80 learners on programmes in employability, health and social care, warehousing, business administration, English, mathematics, and information and communication technology (ICT).

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a very clear vision, specialising in providing opportunities for hard-to-reach groups and those who have significant challenges, such as those with severe mental health issues and those who are homeless. They have carefully planned a curriculum that meets the needs of apprentices and their employers alike. Leaders ensure that they meet the requirements of an apprenticeship in full. Employers benefit from the development of their workforce through the apprenticeship.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers understand their provision very well. They know its strengths and weaknesses and act very quickly and successfully to support improvement. All staff are involved in self-assessment, which is systematic and geared towards the quality of the learners’ experience. Appropriate external oversight provides forensic scrutiny to ensure the effective implementation of policies and procedures. Leaders and managers recruit well-qualified staff and plan their continuing professional development comprehensively, linked to highly valued staff appraisal.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers understand the needs of employers well. They explain fully the responsibilities and expectations required of employers. They monitor employers’ adherence to these effectively and take appropriate action, should employers fail to keep to them. Leaders and managers recruit apprentices with integrity. They ensure Monitoring visit: Acorn Training Limited, 16–17 July 2019 that they understand apprentices’ often complex and detailed needs and that these are matched to an appropriate programme. They make sure learning is meaningful and will support apprentices to develop substantial new skills and do better in their jobs. They know how well apprentices are progressing and intervene to support them where necessary. They mostly prepare apprentices well for their end-point assessment, but a few apprentices do not understand in detail how they might achieve higher grades, or that this opportunity exists.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Apprentices learn relevant and meaningful knowledge and skills that improve their lives and offer them career progression. Assessors identify precisely what apprentices already know and can do. They use this information well to plan appropriate learning for their apprentices. Apprentices quickly develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours, which they apply in the workplace. Apprentices in level 3 care, for example, develop their confidence to carry out new roles. They gain a better understanding of current legislation to enable them to guide and support their co- workers. Almost all apprentices are on track with their learning and are making at least the progress expected from their starting points. Those apprentices who fall behind in their work benefit from timely and helpful interventions to get them back on track.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Apprentices rightly value the support they receive from their assessors and employers, including pastoral care, which helps apprentices to develop their confidence. Apprentices receive support and encouragement to develop their skills in mathematics and English beyond the requirements of their qualifications. Through well-coordinated on- and off-the-job training, apprentices have valuable opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge through work-related projects under the supervision of their employers.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Apprentices understand the arrangements for their end-point assessment, but a few are not aware of the possibility of achieving higher grades. For a few apprentices, the standard of their written work is below the level expected as their written responses to questions are too brief. In these examples, the feedback provided by assessors is not consistently helpful in enabling apprentices to improve and broaden their understanding of the subject. Monitoring visit: Acorn Training Limited, 16–17 July 2019

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers work closely with partners and use their extensive local knowledge to plan a suitable curriculum. This prepares learners well for their next steps into employment or further study and meets local skills shortages. Learners benefit from a thorough induction process, which enables the identification of their starting points, so they can begin an appropriate programme.

p.4

Reasonable progress

The provider works well with a range of partners in the community to support learners’ progression. After learners have completed their programmes, they return to the partner organisation and receive effective support into work linked to their newly gained skills and experience. Leaders and managers provide, where appropriate, opportunities for learners to move into an apprenticeship programme within the provider. Currently, two former learners are working in the centre.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Staff are well qualified and experienced to provide teaching and additional emotional and social support for learners, to enable them to continue on programmes to enhance their future prospects. Leaders work closely with a range of specialist providers to assure learners’ mental health and to tackle barriers to learning such as homelessness.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Learners are well supported and develop their social and personal skills well over time. They rightly value the development of their confidence to face new challenges and to re-engage in education. They develop English and mathematical skills over time, moving from entry 2 to level 2, which prepares them well for life and work. Learners gain valuable employability skills in problem solving, teamwork and preparing presentations through a range of units developed by the provider.

p.4

Reasonable progress

The standard of learners’ work is at an appropriate level, and work demonstrates a good understanding of the requirements of the vocational area. Feedback is helpful in identifying what learners need to do to improve. In a small minority of work, assessors do not consistently correct spelling and grammar errors, and so learners are prone to repeat these.

p.4

Significant progress

Safeguarding arrangements are well established and effective. Apprentices and adult learners feel safe and work in a safe environment. Leaders and managers see to the full implementation of thorough policies and procedures. They are trained extensively in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. They run safe recruitment practices diligently. Monitoring visit: Acorn Training Limited, 16–17 July 2019 They ensure, for example, that staff have the right to work in the United Kingdom and have appropriate qualifications and workplace references.

p.4

Significant progress

Staff carry out comprehensive risk assessments with employers to ensure that apprentices are working in a safe environment. Apprentices and adult learners know how, and to whom, to report should they need support. They know how to stay safe when online, and how to protect themselves in work and in their everyday lives from the threats of extremism and radicalisation.

p.5

Significant progress

Where necessary, staff have made referrals promptly, and the recording of these is detailed. They deal with complex issues confidently and effectively. Monitoring visit: Acorn Training Limited, 16–17 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 .

p.5

Significant 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 .

p.6

Significant 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

p.6

Significant progress

the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Significant progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Significant progress

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6