The Academy Hub Ltd

The Academy Hub Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Victor Reid, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Unit 9, Millar Court 43 Station Road Kenilworth Warwickshire CV8 1JD Monitoring visit: The Academy Hub Limited, 30 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 and/or the apprenticeship levy. This follow-up safeguarding monitoring visit has been carried out consequent to the provider being found to be making insufficient progress with respect to safeguarding at their previous monitoring visit. It follows the arrangements outlined in the ‘Further education and skills inspection handbook’.

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Context and focus of visit

The Academy Hub Limited was previously inspected in May 2019. At that time, the company had 57 apprentices in learning, the vast majority being on standards-based apprenticeships. At this second monitoring visit, the number of apprentices on roll has increased to 95, with most apprentices studying towards a range of qualifications including recruitment, customer service, team leading, and operational management. The director of the company did not respond to inspectors’ requests to provide evidence or contribute towards the monitoring visit until after the inspection had taken place.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this second visit is on the safeguarding theme only, as leaders and managers had made insufficient progress in ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements were in place at the original monitoring visit.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders provided no evidence that demonstrates that they have taken effective action in respect of the various safeguarding concerns raised by inspectors at the previous monitoring visit. Leaders have not ensured that apprentices routinely receive or benefit from ongoing training about different types of safeguarding matters that they may encounter either in the workplace or in their personal lives. While a minority of apprentices have very recently completed an online training course on the dangers associated with radicalisation and extremism, trainers and assessors have not undertaken any checks to confirm the extent to which apprentices have a secure knowledge and understanding of such matters.

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Insufficient progress

Analysis of available information such as the company’s safeguarding policy indicates that it contains out-of-date information. Most apprentices spoken to by inspectors do not know who the designated safeguarding officer is, or how to contact them. Monitoring visit: The Academy Hub Limited, 30 October 2019 Leaders and managers do not use local intelligence to identify particular risks in relation to safeguarding, the ‘Prevent’ duty, or to inform company policies and procedures designed to keep apprentices safe. Leaders and managers provided no evidence that demonstrated effective links with relevant local safeguarding partners.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices feel safe. Apprentices confirmed to inspectors that they have access to relevant health and safety and welfare support. Their employers provide this directly. Apprentices are supported effectively by their employers’ arrangements for safeguarding. These include workplace health and safety checks, employee assistance programmes, and access to qualified first aiders. Monitoring visit: The Academy Hub Limited, 30 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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Insufficient progress

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

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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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