Activ First Limited

Name of lead inspector: Jonny Wright, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 75 St John’s Street Bridlington YO16 7NW Monitoring visit: Activ First Ltd, 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 three themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Activ First Ltd began to deliver apprenticeships in November 2017. At the time of the monitoring visit there were 115 apprentices, of whom 90 were on standards-based programmes. The large majority of apprentices on standards-based programmes were on level 3 apprenticeships in team leading, leisure duty management, personal training, customer service specialist, business administration, facilities management and assessor coach. The remainder were on a level 4 assessor coach programme and a level 5 leadership and management programme. The 25 apprentices on frameworks were on level 2 programmes in exercise and fitness, leisure operations, physical education, schools sports and business administration, and level 3 programmes in personal trainer and youthwork. Activ First Ltd works with employers mainly in the sports and leisure industry in East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Walsall and London.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have extensive experience in the sports and leisure industry, and they use this well to deliver apprenticeship programmes. They have established very close working relationships with employers, and they deliver sports and leisure programmes that benefit the employers that they work with. Apprentices develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours and make a valuable contribution to the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Staff have good industry experience and are well qualified for their roles. Leaders and managers provide staff with relevant training to improve their practice. For example, staff learn how to support apprentices to improve their English and mathematics skills. Monitoring visit: Activ First Ltd, 14–15 August 2019 Apprentices are recruited with integrity and go into the most appropriate apprenticeship. Leaders and managers liaise effectively with employers and conduct comprehensive checks, including of English and mathematics skills, to ensure that prospective apprentices are suitable for an apprenticeship. Most apprentices stay on their programme.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear and detailed overview of the progress that apprentices are making. Assessors provide managers with accurate reports about apprentices’ progress. If apprentices fall behind, managers ensure that assessors take swift action to help apprentices catch up. Consequently, most apprentices make expected progress towards completing their programme. A very high proportion of apprentices complete their apprenticeship on time and gain full-time employment.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and assessors work closely with employers to ensure that apprentices receive their entitlement to off-the-job training. The training enables apprentices to develop the correct knowledge, skills and behaviours for their job role. However, in a few instances training is not planned precisely enough with employers to enable apprentices to progress as quickly as they could.

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Reasonable progress

Although leaders and managers evaluate the quality of apprenticeships, the processes that they use are not sufficiently rigorous to give them an accurate picture of all the strengths and weaknesses of their provision. As a consequence, they are not able to implement improvement actions swiftly enough.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors and employers provide apprentices with effective off-the-job training. Apprentices take part in work shadowing, use online resources and benefit from individual coaching. As a result of their training, most apprentices make appropriate progress in developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they require to be effective in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices gain useful qualifications alongside their apprenticeship in, for example, aqua fit, gym class delivery and pool plant maintenance. As a result, their employers give them additional responsibilities at work.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop good vocational skills which enable them to make positive contributions at work. For example, customer service apprentices develop the skills and confidence required to listen carefully to vulnerable clients.

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Reasonable progress

Most assessors provide helpful feedback to apprentices so that they know how to make improvements. Apprentices produce written work of an appropriate standard for their level of study. Monitoring visit: Activ First Ltd, 14–15 August 2019 Apprentices who take English and mathematics qualifications improve their skills by accessing online learning and through helpful guidance from their assessors. Assessors frequently discuss with apprentices how to apply these skills in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from frequent contact with their assessors. Assessors plan assessments and reviews to fit in with apprentices’ work patterns and most employers are involved in the review of apprentices’ progress.

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Reasonable progress

Employers and assessors provide helpful on-going advice and guidance on future learning and training opportunities, including continuation in full-time employment after apprentices complete their programme.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors do not use information about apprentices’ prior learning and skills well enough to plan learning. They set targets for apprentices that are often too generic and do not help apprentices to make rapid progress.

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Reasonable progress

A small number of apprentices have gone through end-point assessment. Most have achieved a distinction or merit grade. However, too many apprentices have only a basic understanding of what is required of them to be successful at end-point assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have put in place policies and procedures that they use to keep young people and adults safe from harm or abuse. They have established effective measures to meet the requirements of the ‘Prevent’ duty.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) is appropriately trained and experienced. The DSL provides helpful support and advice to staff and apprentices and makes good use of external support when appropriate.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe in their workplace. They demonstrate a good understanding of how to keep safe and they know who to contact should they have any concerns. Too many apprentices, however, do not have a good enough understanding of the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism or local risks such as ‘county lines’ and modern slavery.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers carry out appropriate background checks to confirm that staff are suitable for working with apprentices. They ensure that staff are appropriately trained in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Monitoring visit: Activ First Ltd, 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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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