Eliesha Training Limited

Eliesha Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Alison Gray, Ofsted Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Newcastle House Albany Court Newcastle Business Park Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7YB Monitoring visit: Eliesha Training Limited, 2–3 October 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 (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 ‘Monitoring visits’ and ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly publicly funded’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Eliesha Training Limited began to deliver levy-funded apprenticeships in November 2017. Currently, the company has 174 apprentices on standards-based apprenticeships. Of these, 107 are on the team leader/supervisor apprenticeship at level 3 and 67 are on the operations/departmental manager apprenticeship at level 5. All apprentices are 19 years of age and over.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear strategic intent for their apprenticeship programmes. As experienced specialists in leadership and management training, they use their expertise successfully to meet the demands of employers. They ensure that they meet the principles of apprenticeships and that apprentices receive their entitlement to off-the-job learning during working hours. Apprentices on English and mathematics courses achieve their qualification, with a high proportion achieving at the first attempt.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are recruited appropriately at the correct level. The curriculum starts with self-reflection and concludes with a workplace project that benefits both the employers and apprentices. Apprentices enjoy their training and feel fully supported in the workplace and by tutors. Contact with tutors is frequent and responsive, and it helps apprentices to improve their knowledge and skills. Apprentices’ learning is enhanced through effective use of an electronic learning platform.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices who reach endpoint assessment (EPA) achieve high grades. Those awaiting EPA aspire to achieve distinctions. Apprentices understand fully the content of EPA and, through effective mock assessments, are prepared thoroughly. However, a few apprentices are not aware of when the EPA will take place. Monitoring visit: Eliesha Training Limited, 2–3 October 2019 Leaders and managers ensure that the training team works well together to support apprentices’ progress. During monthly meetings, managers conduct in-depth analyses of apprentices’ progress by group. For the minority who are falling behind, they intervene quickly to help them to catch up. However, information on progress is not used effectively enough to inform the content of apprentices’ 12-weekly progress reviews.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers evaluate fully the quality of the provision. They identify and implement clear actions for improvement across most aspects of the provision. However, they did not pay sufficient attention to the time needed to complete the operational/departmental manager apprenticeship. As a consequence, apprentices do not complete the programme until after their planned end date.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers do not consistently take account of apprentices’ prior attainment when adapting and developing the curriculum.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop substantial new vocational knowledge, skills and behaviours throughout their programme. As a result, many complete more complex tasks, take on additional responsibility within their job role or gain promotion. They improve their workplace behaviour and report greater self-awareness, assertiveness and the ability to accept and respond to constructive feedback. Apprentices recognise correctly the importance of British values and how these relate to their roles as line managers or supervisors.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide high-quality learning resources that enable apprentices to develop and apply their knowledge, skills and behaviours. Apprentices value the workshop sessions and attendance at these sessions is good. They recognise correctly the benefits of working with colleagues and those from other organisations to share experiences and best practice. As a result, apprentices make positive contributions to their workplace, including finding creative solutions to identified problems.

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Reasonable progress

Workplace managers provide high-quality opportunities for apprentices to develop their knowledge and understanding off the job. Apprentices attend relevant external conferences to increase their expertise. They also have good opportunities to participate in workplace projects that support their apprenticeship programme.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors use their extensive knowledge and experience of leadership and management to test apprentices in their application of skills in the workplace. They challenge apprentices to assess how their behaviours at work impact on those that they line manage or supervise. Tutors provide useful feedback to help apprentices to consolidate their learning and to develop their knowledge and skills further. They Monitoring visit: Eliesha Training Limited, 2–3 October 2019 provide good constructive feedback to apprentices that helps them to improve their written assignments.

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Reasonable progress

Managers offer a formal qualification as part of both apprenticeships. However, they do not review closely enough the progress that individual apprentices make in developing their knowledge, skills and behaviours. As a result, a few apprentices do not recognise the full extent of their progress.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe. They have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe and report concerns. Tutors embed safeguarding effectively into professional debates during workshops and these are closely linked to specific apprenticeship modules. The vast majority of apprentices complete additional online training in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty to support their awareness and understanding.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that staff complete appropriate training to carry out their safeguarding responsibilities effectively. All staff are subject to periodic Disclosure and Barring Service checks. The designated safeguarding lead has completed training in safe recruitment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders assess the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism and take action to minimise them. However, a few apprentices are not aware of the risks associated with county lines. They cannot identify localised risks in relation to radicalisation and extremism. Managers recognise correctly that they need to identify gaps in knowledge and extend surveys to include the ‘Prevent’ duty. Monitoring visit: Eliesha Training Limited, 2–3 October 2019 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

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Reasonable progress

children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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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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