Genius Software Solutions Limited

Genius Software Solutions Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Charles Searle, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

1439 Cumbernauld Road Glasgow G33 1AN Monitoring visit: Genius Software Solutions, 1 to 2 October 2020

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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 ESFA and/or the apprenticeship levy. This provider received a monitoring visit under these arrangements and was found to be making insufficient progress against one or more themes.

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Context and focus of visit

On 17 March 2020, all routine inspections were suspended due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. As part of our phased return to routine inspections, we are carrying out additional monitoring visits to new providers that were judged to be making insufficient progress against one or more themes at their previous monitoring visit and would have been due their full inspection up to or during the interim phase but have not received it because of the suspension of routine inspections. This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of those arrangements as outlined in the interim phase operational note for further education and skills and with reference to the further education and skills handbook and is focused on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Genius People, the training arm of Genius Software Solutions Limited, delivers programmes to 58 apprentices in England. Most apprentices work for two companies in the financial services industry. There are 32 apprentices on the providing financial services framework at level 3, four apprentices on the financial services standard at level 2, 18 apprentices on the team leader/supervisor standard at level 3, and two apprentices on the business administration framework at level 2. Genius Software Solutions Limited has one subcontractor that has two apprentices on the business administrator standard at level 2.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have worked diligently to address the main areas of improvement identified at the previous monitoring visit. They have made improvements successfully despite many apprentices being put on breaks in learning or working remotely during the national lockdown.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have taken the sensible decision to consolidate the curriculum that they offer, based on their knowledge of the financial services sector. As a result, they now work with a few large employers to design and provide an apprenticeship curriculum that addresses the specific workforce development needs of these businesses. Monitoring visit: Genius Software Solutions, 1 to 2 October 2020 Managers, employers and apprentices abide by the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship programme. Managers have put in place apprenticeship agreements and commitment statements for all the programmes that they deliver. These contain curriculum plans that set out how each standard or framework is delivered. Managers ensure that apprentices keep detailed records of their off-the-job training and receive their entitlement.

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Reasonable progress

Employers get regular information about the progress of their apprentices. Those apprentices who do not make good progress are identified quickly and helped to get back on track. For example, employers give apprentices more time at work to complete assignments and rotate them around departments to enable them to experience different aspects of the financial services industry.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and tutors have relevant and extensive experience in the financial services sector. Their specialist expertise is valued by employers, who use the apprenticeship programmes as a means of bringing on new talent and promoting staff to higher positions within their companies.

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Reasonable progress

The directors of the parent company do not hold the managers of Genius People to account sufficiently for the quality of the provision. Managers recognise this as a weakness and have employed a consultant to provide them with external challenge. However, this arrangement is too new to have had an impact.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have strengthened the way that they establish the starting points of apprentices. Although unable to recruit new apprentices, they have worked closely with employers to identify the new skills and knowledge that current apprentices will achieve during the remainder of their programmes.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors and managers work purposefully with employers to plan and sequence the curriculum in a way that enables apprentices to develop quickly the skills, knowledge and behaviours that they need to work in financial services. For example, team leader apprentices learn the theory behind different leadership styles before applying this knowledge in their supervision sessions with their staff.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors use regular reviews effectively to identify gaps in apprentices’ knowledge. They pose helpful questions that enable apprentices to improve their work. For example, team leader apprentices are encouraged to consider using coaching to manage the performance of their staff.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors reinforce effectively the need for the great majority of apprentices to develop their written English skills by challenging them to produce grammatically correct and accurately spelled reports. However, a small number of apprentices have not received timely enough support to prepare them for functional skills tests. Monitoring visit: Genius Software Solutions, 1 to 2 October 2020 Apprentices learn and apply mathematical techniques that enable them to calculate costs and sequence business processes based on estimated timings for individual tasks.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors and managers ensure that apprentices understand how they need to prepare for their end-point assessments. As a result, the first cohort of apprentices on the team leader/supervisor standard were able to complete their programmes while working remotely.

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Reasonable progress

A small minority of apprentices are not clear about how their apprenticeship curriculum is structured. As a result, they often do not recognise how the formal off- the-job training that they receive contributes to the development of their skills and knowledge.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have high expectations of themselves and their staff to keep apprentices safe. Well-qualified safeguarding officers ensure that all staff have enhanced checks and complete their mandatory safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training on time.

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Reasonable progress

The safeguarding lead has developed effective links with the safeguarding boards and ‘Prevent’ coordinators in all of the local authorities where training is delivered. Information from these contacts is used well to brief tutors on current risks, such as the growth of right-wing extremism during lockdown.

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Reasonable progress

Managers use incident reporting effectively in order to identify the welfare concerns that apprentices experience. For example, the safeguarding lead developed a learning package for tutors in order to support apprentices who are returning to work from furlough, and to help them cope with their anxieties.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are aware of how to stay safe and how to report any concerns. They have a realistic awareness of the risks of radicalisation and extremism in their areas. Monitoring visit: Genius Software Solutions, 1 to 2 October 2020 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.

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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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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