Edlounge Ltd

EDLounge Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Sarah Stabler, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider Address: Unit 5 Aston House Campbell Way Dinnington Sheffield S25 3QD Monitoring visit: EDLounge Limited, 24–25 July 2019

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Context and focus of visit

From October2018, Ofsted undertook to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of adult learning provision which began to be funded from August 2017 or after by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. 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 ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly funded to deliver adult learning provision’ and ‘Monitoring visits’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

EDLounge Limited is an independent training provider that offers online learning through a virtual learning environment, with face-to-face teacher support. Currently, there are 262 adult learners, 92 of whom are with subcontractors. The large majority of learners are taking functional skills courses in English, mathematics and information and communication technology (ICT) from entry level to level 2. There are 66 learners taking level 2 courses in road passenger vehicle driving, and the remainder are working towards employability or vocational qualifications.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders successfully achieve their strategic goal of providing flexible training programmes through an approach that blends online learning with face-to-face support. They work effectively with employers to design bespoke courses that meet industry requirements and help adult learners to sustain employment and improve their lives. For example, managers worked with local authorities and passenger transport specialists to design a course for the road passenger vehicle driver qualification.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit high-calibre employees who apply their extensive experience and knowledge to design and deliver successful learning programmes. Leaders have taken effective action to formalise the governance of the organisation. They work successfully with professionals in their field and have formed an advisory group that aims to provide challenge and hold senior leaders to account.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have high expectations for the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. They have a professional approach to developing teaching practice that is linked to clearly defined standards. Managers take decisive action when staff or qualifications do not meet the required standard. As a result, they have improved the quality and consistency of teaching, learning and assessment. Monitoring visit: EDLounge Limited, 24–25 July 2019 Managers risk assess the suitability of subcontractors to deliver provision and conduct effective monitoring visits to assure the quality of their delivery. However, visits are not regular enough to ensure sustained improvement over time.

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Reasonable progress

Senior managers do not analyse effectively information about the progress and destinations of learners. They rely on managers and teaching staff to monitor progress and do not collect information about actual or sustained destinations of learners. As a result, they are unable to demonstrate the full impact of their courses.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers work very effectively to meet the needs of vulnerable adults. They have high aspirations for learners, many of whom have been in long-term care, suffered from drug or alcohol misuse, or encountered domestic violence. They provide individualised training programmes that meet learners’ needs. As a result, most learners have gained their first qualification and have moved on to further learning or sustained employment.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers use information about learners’ starting points effectively to identify learning and support needs. They provide personalised coaching and one-to-one support that enable learners to make at least the progress of which they are capable. Teachers use high-quality online resources innovatively to help learners engage in learning.

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Reasonable progress

Learners develop good work-related skills. They develop communication and interpersonal skills, which improve their confidence. For example, learners completing functional skills courses in ICT are able to apply complex formulas to carry out tax calculations on spreadsheets. As a result, they make positive contributions to the workplace by taking on the role of digital ambassador to support colleagues in developing their digital skills.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers monitor learners’ progress thoroughly. They take prompt action to help learners who fall behind to catch up. A few teachers do not assess accurately the development of learners’ skills, knowledge and behaviours. Teachers’ feedback informs learners about what they have achieved but it does not focus on what learners need to do to improve further.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers successfully support learners to develop their mathematical skills. They link learning to work and essential life skills, such as managing money. However, teachers do not focus sufficiently on the development of learners’ English skills, as they do not routinely correct learners’ mistakes. Monitoring visit: EDLounge Limited, 24–25 July 2019

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have designed and implemented comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures. They check that staff, including those newly recruited, are safe to work with learners.

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Reasonable progress

Learners are safe and feel safe. They know how safeguarding is relevant to them in their everyday lives and careers. For example, taxi drivers who have recently completed their course develop a better understanding of how to support vulnerable customers and how to contact key personnel if issues emerge.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers provide a good range of safeguarding training opportunities for staff. Staff benefit from high-quality specialist training, covering issues such as county lines, forced marriage, child sexual exploitation and female genital mutilation. Leaders and managers use this training effectively to ensure that staff have a good knowledge of specific risks that could affect their learners. However, staff working for subcontractors do not benefit from the same rigour in training and development. Monitoring visit: EDLounge 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 . 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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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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