Construction and Plant Assessments Ltd

Construction and Plant Assessments 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:

Unit 5 Globe Court Coal Pit Road Denaby Lane Industrial Estate Denaby Main Doncaster DN12 4LH Monitoring visit: Construction and Plant Assessments 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 three themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Construction and Plant Assessments Limited (CPA) is a training provider based near Doncaster. CPA predominantly delivers training for the flooring and construction sectors. It has delivered provision as a subcontractor since 2014, and began directly delivering levy-funded apprenticeships in 2017. CPA currently has 19 apprentices through its levy-based contract, on level 2 standard-based and framework programmes in groundworks, highways and flooring.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear strategy for developing their provision and to ensure that it meets apprenticeship requirements. They provide apprentices with effective off-the-job training to develop new skills, knowledge and behaviours in groundworks, highways and flooring.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that apprentices receive effective initial advice and guidance so that they are placed on appropriate programmes. They ensure that apprentices who do not have level 2 qualifications in English and mathematics have the opportunity to gain them.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that apprentices on standards-based programmes have a clear understanding of the end-point assessment and when this will take place. They schedule time prior to the end-point assessment to enable apprentices to prepare for it.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers receive feedback from apprentices and employers about the apprenticeship and use it to make positive changes. For example, a council employer highlighted that apprentices would benefit from learning about kerbing. Leaders and managers responded by introducing kerbing into the curriculum. Monitoring visit: Construction and Plant Assessments Limited, 24–25 July 2019 Managers communicate effectively with employers. They regularly update employers about apprentices’ attendance, attitude and behaviours when apprentices attend the training centre.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have appropriate quality assurance arrangements in place. They carefully evaluate the quality of the provision and provide effective support to staff to develop their knowledge, skills and ability to deliver high-quality training to apprentices. Leaders and managers have an accurate understanding of the strengths of their provision and are clear about what they need to do to improve it. They have an appropriate quality improvement plan in place, which they monitor regularly.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors work effectively with apprentices at the start of their programme to identify which areas they need to work on in English, mathematics and their vocational area. Apprentices benefit from a well-structured curriculum and well-planned off-the-job training. As a result, they develop the skills and knowledge to be successful on their apprenticeship. Employers provide positive feedback on the progress that apprentices make and, as a result, apprentices consolidate and develop new skills through their training.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors and assessors provide high-quality training which enables apprentices to make appropriate progress in developing a wide range of new knowledge and skills. They have appropriate industrial experience, good subject knowledge and relevant qualifications. They use their expertise well to develop the knowledge and skills of apprentices. Apprentices benefit from the training and can explain the new skills and knowledge that they have gained at the training centre. For example, they can identify different road surfaces and the various depths required for each surface.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors and assessors effectively monitor the progress of apprentices on their main qualification through progress reviews that take place frequently. As a result, apprentices know what they have completed and what they need to do to improve. However, too many apprentices are not aware of their progress in English and mathematics and do not know what they need to work on to develop their skills further.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have well-organised portfolios of work in which they record the good standard of vocational skills that they have developed. Tutors and assessors give helpful feedback on apprentices’ written and practical vocational work to ensure that apprentices know what they need to work on to improve further. Monitoring visit: Construction and Plant Assessments Limited, 24–25 July 2019 Staff provide good guidance to apprentices on further training and employment opportunities. As a result, apprentices are clear about their career goals in groundworks, highways and flooring and how to achieve them.

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Reasonable progress

Leader and managers ensure that appropriate safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty policies and procedures are in place to keep apprentices safe. They have a ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment and action plan. However, they do not consistently identify local issues related to the different regions in which they work.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead has carried out appropriate training to be effective in the role. Managers implement an effective process for recording and monitoring safeguarding concerns and work with external agencies when necessary. All staff complete appropriate safeguarding training. As a result, they understand how to safeguard apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that apprentices complete effective safeguarding training . As a result, all apprentices know how to identify safeguarding concerns and who to contact if they have concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that thorough health and safety arrangements are in place. Apprentices are fully aware of these and know how to stay safe in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Managers carry out appropriate safe recruitment of staff. This ensures that staff are safe to work with apprentices. Monitoring visit: Construction and Plant Assessments 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 .

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Reasonable progress

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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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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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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