Peach Orator Limited

Peach Orator Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

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

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

106a Rotherham Road Barnsley South Yorkshire S71 1UT Monitoring visit: Peach Orator Limited, 17–18 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 three themes set out below.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Peach Orator Limited is an independent learning provider based in Barnsley and provides apprenticeships across the country. At the time of the monitoring visit it had 57 apprentices enrolled on a range of programmes from level 2 to level 5, including business administration, learning support/mentoring and management. Seventeen of these apprentices are enrolled on standards-based apprenticeships, the remainder are on frameworks. Training for a further 80 apprentices is subcontracted to Parenta Training, based in Maidstone, Kent. These apprentices are predominantly on level 2 and level 3 frameworks in children and young people’s workforce.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear vision for their apprenticeship provision and focus on providing high-quality apprenticeships. Leaders and managers ensure that they place people onto an appropriate apprenticeship that will meet their long-term career goals.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that the requirements for an apprenticeship are met. They ensure that apprentices who do not have English and/or mathematics skills at level 2 are given the opportunity to develop these. They ensure that assessors identify the areas that apprentices need to work on at the start of their apprenticeship and plan their individual programme. As a result, the vast majority of apprentices are making expected progress in English and mathematics. Managers ensure that apprentices have appropriate off-the-job training that improves their performance in the workplace.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that apprentices develop new skills, knowledge and behaviours. For example, how to claim certificates and batch headers on a business administration apprenticeship and how to prepare budgets and chair meetings on a management apprenticeship. Monitoring visit: Peach Orator Limited, 17–18 July 2019 Leaders and managers effectively monitor the quality of provision delivered by the subcontractor. They make appropriate use of the results of quality monitoring activities to improve the provision delivered by Parenta.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Managers have good oversight of the progress apprentices are making. They monitor the progress of minority and vulnerable groups of apprentices well.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have accurately identified areas requiring improvement and have implemented a suitable quality improvement plan. Leaders and managers are making appropriate reasonable progress against actions identified in the plan.

p.3

Reasonable progress

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

p.3

Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from a thorough induction process that includes a comprehensive assessment of their vocational and English and mathematics skills. As a result, assessors know what apprentices need to work on at the start of their programme and develop appropriate programmes of study. Apprentices receive accurate initial advice and guidance at the start of their programmes from well qualified staff.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors visit apprentices in their workplace sufficiently frequently to monitor their progress. As a result, the majority of apprentices make at least expected progress. At Parenta, where a small minority of apprentices are making less than expected progress, managers have put a robust action plan in place. Consequently, these apprentices are now making improved progress in catching up. Most employers are appropriately involved in progress reviews. As a result, apprentices know what they need to improve in the workplace.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors provide useful feedback to apprentices so that they know what to do to make improvements in their practical work and assignments. A small minority of tutors and assessors at Parenta need to provide more guidance to apprentices to help them develop further. Apprentices develop new skills and knowledge that helps them work confidently and safely within their childcare settings. However, the targets that a minority of tutors set in progress reviews are not sufficiently detailed or challenging to show apprentices how they should improve their work. Targets do not always focus on wider vocational skills that apprentices need to develop.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors and assessors have appropriate qualifications and vocational expertise. They use these to develop a range of skills, knowledge and behaviours in apprentices. Monitoring visit: Peach Orator Limited, 17–18 July 2019 Managers ensure that appropriately qualified staff provide effective support for apprentices with special educational needs.

p.3

Reasonable progress

The majority of apprentices are clear about their career goals and understand how their apprenticeship will help them to achieve these and to progress to further qualifications.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that there are appropriate arrangements in place to safeguard apprentices. Managers ensure that staff are safe to work with apprentices through an effective safer recruitment process. Managers ensure that there are thorough health and safety checks in place to keep apprentices safe in the workplace.

p.4

Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead has appropriate training to be effective in her role. Managers deal well with the low number of concerns they receive, including making referrals to outside agencies, where appropriate.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that all staff and apprentices complete appropriate training to ensure that they understand safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. As a result, staff and apprentices know how to respond if there is a safeguarding concern.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that there is a ‘Prevent’ risk assessment and action plan in place. However, managers recognise that they need to ensure that all local concerns are included, given the wide scope of delivery across the United Kingdom. Monitoring visit: Peach Orator Limited, 17–18 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.4

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 .

p.5

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

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5