Piper Training Limited

Piper Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector:

Anita Pyrkotsch-Jones, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Name of lead inspector:

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Old Mansion House Eamont Bridge Penrith Cumbria CA10 2BX Monitoring visit: Piper Training Limited, 19 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 follow- up safeguarding monitoring visit has been carried out consequent to the provider being found to be making insufficient progress with respect to safeguarding at their previous monitoring visit. It follows the arrangements outlined in the Further education and skills inspection handbook.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this visit is only on the safeguarding theme below.

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Context and focus of visit

Piper Training Limited (Piper Training) currently has 112 apprentices based throughout England. Most apprentices are studying apprenticeships in heating and ventilation at levels 2 and 3. A very small number of apprentices are studying project management apprenticeships at level 4. The majority of apprentices are following apprenticeship frameworks.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have worked methodically to address adequately most of the significant weaknesses identified at the previous monitoring visit.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have reviewed and updated safeguarding policies and processes, including those for the ‘Prevent’ duty. The revised policies and processes require further development. For example, leaders and managers have yet to establish a sufficient range of external contacts for ‘Prevent’.

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Reasonable progress

Following the previous monitoring visit, leaders reviewed and amended appropriately the safeguarding arrangements. No safeguarding referrals have been received. Therefore, safeguarding arrangements remain untested.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding officer (DSO) now receives support from two deputy designated safeguarding officers (DDSO). All three have completed specific DSO training. Leaders and managers now ensure that a member of the safeguarding team is always available to deal with safeguarding concerns and issues. Apprentices and employers are aware of who the DSO and her deputies are. They understand how and when to report safeguarding or safeguarding-related concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous monitoring visit, all staff have completed level 3 safeguarding training and level 2 training in the ‘Prevent’ duty. Staff now have a greater Monitoring visit: Piper Training Limited, 19 July 2019 understanding of safeguarding, the ‘Prevent’ duty and what they should do if they have concerns about an apprentice or colleague.

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Reasonable progress

Subcontractor arrangements for safeguarding are now more stringent. Managers complete annual quality assurance audits of subcontractors’ safeguarding arrangements. They plan to record the audit details and action points for improvement on the management information system. However, the management information system has yet to be fully implemented.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from an induction and training handbook that provides basic information about safeguarding and safeguarding-related issues. As a result, apprentices have an adequate understanding of safeguarding, safeguarding-related issues and the dangers associated with radicalisation and extremism. They are aware of the steps they should take if they have any concerns about themselves or their peers.

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Reasonable progress

Safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty are mandatory topics during apprentices’ reviews. Training support coordinators (TSC) use ‘hot topics’ during reviews to develop apprentices’ understanding of safeguarding and the threats of radicalisation and extremism. However, the recording of these discussions is too brief. Review documentation does not capture accurately safeguarding discussions between apprentices and their TSCs. Apprentices’ reviews and learning plans do not record learning points or safeguarding training undertaken. Monitoring visit: Piper Training Limited, 19 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

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

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