Learnmore Network Limited

Learnmore Network Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Steve Lambert, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

85 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TQ Monitoring visit: Learnmore Network Limited, 15–16 October 2019

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Context and focus of visit

From March 2019, 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

Learnmore Network Limited (Learnmore) is a training provider based in Camden, London. It has received funding directly from the Education and Skills Funding Agency through the apprenticeship budget since 2018, and it is this provision that is in scope for the monitoring visit. In 2018/19 the provider had 124 apprentices funded through this route. At the time of the inspection 120 apprentices were on level 3 and level 5 management apprenticeship standards.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers share a vision and ambition to provide high-quality apprenticeship training in management for the service sector. They are prudent with their plans to grow the apprenticeship provision. Leaders and managers work closely with employers to implement apprenticeship programmes that support individuals to gain the knowledge they need to work in this sector.

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Reasonable progress

Staff are careful to recruit, in conjunction with the employers, apprentices who will benefit from new knowledge and skills. Most apprentices stay to the end of their course and a high proportion achieve their qualifications. The majority of apprentices gain additional responsibilities or promotion as a result of their course.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have established effective partnerships with employers. These partners are now part of Learnmore’s governance board. This has led to a high level of commitment from the employers to the apprenticeship programme.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have an accurate picture of the strengths of the apprenticeship programme and are candid in their evaluation of areas for improvement. However, they do not evaluate well enough the quality of training and do not provide effective enough support to staff so that they can improve their teaching. Monitoring visit: Learnmore Network Limited, 15–16 October 2019 Leaders and managers have recently implemented a process to gain independent scrutiny of the quality of the apprenticeship provision. This is still in its infancy and it is too early to assess the impact on the quality of the apprenticeship programme.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have recruited staff with the appropriate experience and qualifications in the subject areas being offered. Apprentices receive good support from assessors, referred to as learning partners, to develop new knowledge and skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers use information they have about apprentices’ prior knowledge and skills well to ensure that apprentices are on the correct apprenticeship. Apprentices are taught new knowledge that benefits their employers. For example, they know how to manage a budget and become more effective at leading teams. As a result, apprentices develop competencies that make them more productive in their job.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive frequent reviews and support from learning partners. Apprentices benefit from these as they help them to stay motivated and on track to achieve. In a minority of cases, apprentices’ line managers are not routinely involved in review meetings. In these cases, apprentices’ work is not always linked well enough to what they are learning at the provider.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a good overview of the knowledge apprentices gain and the progress they make. They monitor the proportion of apprentices who are on track to achieve their apprenticeship. However, leaders and managers do not analyse this information. Tracking of apprentices’ behaviours requires further refinement in order to monitor accurately this aspect of the apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

The small number of apprentices who require additional help with English and mathematics receive good support. A specialist tutor identifies deficits in apprentices’ English and mathematics knowledge and plans learning to address these. As a result, the proportion of apprentices who achieve their English and mathematics qualifications is high.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders, managers and staff have created an environment which is welcoming and where apprentices feel supported. They have appropriate policies and procedures in place, including to ensure the safe recruitment of staff. The policies and procedures outline in detail the risks apprentices may face and the actions staff should take. Monitoring visit: Learnmore Network Limited, 15–16 October 2019 Staff are trained in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. The designated safeguarding lead has completed training to the appropriate level to be effective in their role.

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Reasonable progress

Staff have started to develop a more detailed understanding of the risks apprentices face based on where they live and learn within the country. Apprentices receive appropriate safeguarding information, through regular ‘Hot-Topics’ sheets that include how to stay safe online. These allow apprentices to develop a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe and the risks posed by extremism and radicalisation. Monitoring visit: Learnmore Network Limited, 15–16 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. 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 the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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

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