YH Training Services Limited

YH Training Services Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Rebecca Clare, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Address:

37–39 Falsgrave Road Scarborough North Yorkshire YO12 5AE Monitoring visit: YH Training Services Limited, 13–14 November 2019

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Context and focus of visit

YH Training Services Limited (YH) was inspected in January 2019. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in addressing the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Context and focus of visit

YH is based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. It delivers education and training at centres across the North East and Yorkshire and Humber regions and offers a wide range of apprenticeships to employers in these regions. Since the previous inspection, YH has significantly reduced subcontracted apprenticeship provision and now delivers most apprenticeships directly. Around half of the learners on education programmes for young people are on courses that prepare them for military careers. The remaining younger learners (including a small number who have high needs) and most adult learners are on employability programmes.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have designed an effective new careers advice and guidance programme for learners on education programmes for young people. Learners use careers guidance from specialist tutors and helpful appointments with external advisers to improve their knowledge and understanding of their future career options. For example, learners on military preparation courses (MPCs) receive expert advice from their tutors, who are military reservists, and from external military recruiters. They quickly increase their knowledge of the regiments that they aspire to join and the steps that they need to take to be successful in selection procedures. This helps to ensure that they progress to the branch of the military that interests them most.

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Reasonable progress

The minority of MPC learners who do not progress to military careers receive helpful, impartial advice and guidance that enables them to make informed choices about alternative careers and courses. They visit colleges, find out about apprenticeship vacancies and have appointments with the National Careers Service. Most progress to employment or further study in, for example, sports and public services.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices and adult learners receive helpful careers advice from their tutors. Tutors work closely with apprentices to discuss and plan their next steps. They encourage apprentices to consider further learning that will help them develop their careers. The vast majority of apprentices who complete their programmes remain in Monitoring visit: YH Training Services Limited, 13–14 November 2019 work, often in promoted positions and with additional responsibilities. A small minority of adult learners receive less focused guidance and are not clear about how to progress to the courses and careers they want to follow. Managers have plans to ensure that learners on adult learning programmes and apprentices have access to an improved careers advice and guidance programme. It is too early to see the impact of these plans.

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Reasonable progress

Managers work well with employers to ensure that the curriculum focuses on relevant knowledge and skills that prepare learners and apprentices to be successful in their careers. For example, they expertly map the MPCs to the first phase of post- selection military training. Learners develop a secure understanding of key concepts and skills, such as army core values and basic skill at arms, that they need in the military. They quickly increase their fitness to the demanding levels required by the military.

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Reasonable progress

Managers sequence the curriculum effectively so that key theoretical concepts are taught early in the course. Learners and apprentices then have plenty of time to deepen their understanding of these concepts by applying them as skills on their courses or at work. For example, apprentices on performing manufacturing operations frameworks study combined manufacturing operations first so that they can then apply their knowledge effectively to a range of manufacturing skills, such as injection moulding and printing.

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Reasonable progress

Most tutors are skilled at breaking down complex tasks into key components that they then teach effectively. For example, learners used glossaries and presentations to explore issues of democracy and Brexit, in preparation for a visit from a parliamentary candidate. Learners’ prior knowledge of key political issues enabled them to gain further knowledge by asking informed questions during the visit. Nominated representatives asked knowledgeable questions prepared by some learners who have high needs, who did not want to speak during the husting. Most learners and apprentices develop a secure understanding of politics and life in modern Britain that underpins a firm commitment to active citizenship.

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Reasonable progress

In a few cases, tutors do not use assessment effectively to identify learners’ and apprentices’ levels of knowledge and understanding. This reduces these tutors’ ability to develop learners’ and apprentices’ existing knowledge or address gaps in knowledge. Monitoring visit: YH Training Services Limited, 13–14 November 2019

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Reasonable progress

Managers have realigned the curriculum to focus on YH’s areas of greatest expertise. They stopped subcontracting with a number of apprenticeship providers who did not meet YH’s quality standards. Most apprentices affected by these changes transferred successfully to alternative providers. A few remain on programmes that are coming to an end. Managers intensified their monitoring of the quality of these programmes and almost all remaining apprentices are making good progress.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have taken effective actions that have brought about a significant improvement in learners’ attendance. For example, they now identify and contact absentees much earlier.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have improved the quality of mathematics and English on education programmes for young people. They developed new resources to prioritise fundamental principles that support learners to apply their mathematical knowledge in a wide range of contexts. They appointed specialist teachers with expertise in mathematics and English. Learners demonstrate their improved knowledge and understanding of these subjects in their writing and practical activities. For instance, they become accomplished map-readers and orienteers. Some learners do not complete their mathematics and English qualifications at YH because they pass military selection procedures early. The knowledge and skills they gain at YH prepare them well to complete these qualifications while in the military.

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Reasonable progress

Most managers use effective procedures that focus on learners’ and apprentices’ development of knowledge, skills and behaviours to identify strengths and areas for improvement in the quality of provision. For example, they review learners’ diaries to check what learners have learned and how well they are using their new knowledge. Managers usually act swiftly and effectively to address any areas for improvement. However, in a few cases, leaders and managers do not provide sufficient training to help improve tutors’ vocational or teaching skills. In these cases, the quality of education is slower to improve. Monitoring visit: YH Training Services Limited, 13–14 November 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

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Reasonable progress

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.

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Reasonable progress

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