Stepping Stones Education and Training Limited

Stepping Stones Education and Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Bev Ramsell, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Unit 2 Brindley Court Dalewood Road Newcastle-under-lyme Staffordshire ST5 9QA Monitoring visit: Stepping Stones Education and Training Limited 14-15 August 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 the Education and Skills Funding Agency 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.

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Context and focus of visit

In January 2018 Stepping Stones Education Limited received its own publicly funded contract. The company delivers apprenticeship frameworks in business administration level 2 and 3, barbering level 2, hairdressing level 3, business improvement techniques level 2, customer service level 2 and 3, team-leading level 2, warehousing level 2 and 3, food production and cooking level 2, licensed hospitality level 2, management level 3 and health and social care level 2 and level 3. They also deliver apprenticeship standards in professional hairdressing, customer service practitioner adult care and lead adult care. At the time of inspection, 68 apprentices were on programmes.

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Reasonable progress

Information, advice and guidance at the start of the programme is effective. For example, apprentices complete useful trial periods with an employer before starting work. This helps managers match apprentices to the right programme and at the right level. As a result, most apprentices are clear about their career aims and a few have gained a promotion at work.

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Reasonable progress

At sign-up, tutors review the apprenticeship delivery hours and formulate the off-the- job requirements. Managers monitor apprentices’ entitlement to off-the-job training. Tutors use the e-portfolio system to ensure that apprentices have access to sufficient time off-the-job for their studies. However, this approach is not yet systematic. As a result, not all apprentices receive their entitlement and consequently make slow progress. Monitoring visit: Stepping Stones Education and Training Limited 14-15 August 2019 Leaders recruit experienced tutors who hold relevant teaching qualifications. However, not all tutors hold higher-level vocational qualifications from the ones they deliver. As a result, apprentices have limited progression routes available to them.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and tutors review apprentices’ progress monthly. However, tutors do not give sufficient regard to the information needed when completing a review. As a result, not all information recorded in the e-portfolio is precise enough to enable managers to identify where apprentices are falling behind. Consequently, a minority of apprentices make slow progress.

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Reasonable progress

All apprentices complete an initial assessment of their starting points, including in English, mathematics and information and communication technology. However, tutors do not assess apprentices’ other skills such as problem-solving. As a result, most apprentices struggle to develop these skills.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours effectively. For example, hairdressing apprentices confidently use advanced techniques to colour clients’ hair in a busy salon. As a result, employers benefit from the contribution that apprentices make at work.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from employer support. For example, apprentices receive coaching from their employer to enable them to develop additional skills and behaviours required by their industry. As a result, apprentices demonstrate professional behaviours when completing their day-to-day tasks.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from well-planned ongoing assessment. Feedback from tutors is informative and guides apprentices on how to develop their knowledge and skills. As a result, apprentices’ work is good and of a high standard.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are well prepared for the end-point assessment (EPA). They understand what they need to do to successfully complete the EPA.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors do not make full use of the information gathered at the start of the programme about all apprentices in order to plan well-ordered and challenging training. As a result, a minority of the most able apprentices do not progress as swiftly as they could.

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Reasonable progress

In a minority of cases, tutors do not ensure that apprentices receive regular off-the- job training. For example, team-leading apprentices were not aware of their off-the- job entitlement. As a result, apprentices complete their apprenticeship work in their own time and so make slow progress. They do not achieve within the planned time. Monitoring visit: Stepping Stones Education and Training Limited 14-15 August 2019 Apprentices develop their functional skills independently through workbooks. However, they do not always develop their English, mathematics and digital skills beyond the level they need to complete their apprenticeship. As a result, too many apprentices are not aware of how to improve the accuracy of their work.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have appointed a designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy safeguarding lead who hold senior positions within the company. The DSL and deputy are appropriately trained. Both leads understand their roles and responsibilities relating to safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have ensured that all tutors and apprentices complete safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training on induction. Tutors are regularly updated throughout the year.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure a thorough vetting process, including the completion of Disclosure and Barring Service checks, for all employees.

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Reasonable progress

Managers do not develop systematically apprentices’ understanding of the ‘Prevent’ duty. Consequently, most apprentices do not have a deep understanding of current threats and local issues that they may face.

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Reasonable progress

Managers complete risk assessments of all employers. However, managers do not systematically review employers’ safeguarding or ‘Prevent’ duty policies. As a result, managers do not always have a clear understanding of employers’ safeguarding practice. Monitoring visit: Stepping Stones Education and Training Limited 14-15 August 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 .

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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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