Doncaster Conferences, Catering and Events Limited

Doncaster Conferences, Catering and Events Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Ken Merry, Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

DCLT Training Academy Bond Street Rossington Doncaster DN11 0BZ Monitoring visit: Doncaster Conferences, Catering and Events Limited, 21–22 October 2020

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Doncaster Conferences, Catering and Events Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust. It began to deliver apprenticeships through its direct funding contract in September 2018. Currently, there are 20 apprentices on standards-based programmes. Of these, 10 are on the customer service practitioner programme at level 2. A further six are on leisure duty manager and team leader/supervisor programmes at level 3. Four apprentices are on the operations/departmental manager programme at level 5. All apprentices are employed by Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have not overcome the weaknesses found at the previous monitoring visit. While leaders have taken action to address some of the weaknesses, they have been too slow to make necessary improvements to the quality of provision. As a result, almost all the apprentices that remain on their programme are beyond their planned end date and are making slow progress towards achieving their apprenticeship.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Staff do not plan apprentices’ programmes well enough. They do not ensure that apprentices receive their entitlement to off-the-job training. As a result, the provider’s delivery still does not meet the principles of an apprenticeship. Monitoring visit: Doncaster Conferences, Catering and Events Limited, 21–22 October 2020 Leaders have not ensured that programmes are suitable for apprentices, all of whom they recruited prior to the previous monitoring visit. Most apprentices already have the skills to carry out their job effectively, and the apprenticeship does not enable them to develop new occupationally specific skills, knowledge and behaviours. Managers have a plan in place to improve initial advice and guidance for new recruits. However, as they have been unable to recruit new apprentices following their previous monitoring visit, this has not been implemented.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders at the trust who have governance responsibility have a clear understanding of the weaknesses in the provision. They recognise, however, that they do not have appropriate expertise in education and skills to hold tutors to account. They are in the process of recruiting a board with the specific expertise that is missing. However, they have not acted swiftly enough to improve governance.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Tutors are appropriately qualified for their roles. They have industry-specific experience and qualifications that support the delivery of the apprenticeship. They use their industrial expertise well to ensure that apprentices understand topics relevant to the leisure industry.

p.3

Insufficient progress

The great majority of apprentices have not acquired substantial new skills or knowledge since the previous monitoring visit. A few apprentices report that they have increased their confidence or improved their understanding of the customer service or management theory that underpins their daily work tasks.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Managers have not ensured that arrangements for developing apprentices’ English and mathematics knowledge and skills are effective. A few apprentices who are well beyond the date by which they should have completed their apprenticeship are yet to be provided with any work to prepare them for any required assessment in these subjects.

p.3

Insufficient progress

When tutors carry out individual reviews with apprentices, they now focus well on linking the general content of the apprenticeship standard to the context of the company that all the apprentices work for. For example, level 2 customer service apprentices research performance indicators and measures, and then apply them to their job roles. However, in too many instances, tutors have been too slow to make contact with apprentices following return from furlough, and this has limited the progress that apprentices have made.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Although apprentices’ progress continues to be too slow, tutors now have a good understanding of the progress that their apprentices make and what they need to do to complete their programme. They now discuss progress with apprentices and make Monitoring visit: Doncaster Conferences, Catering and Events Limited, 21–22 October 2020 plans for apprentices to demonstrate their knowledge and progress through completion of written work. However, tutors do not set precise enough deadlines for apprentices to enable them to increase the pace of their progress.

p.3

Insufficient progress

When apprentices produce written work, they receive very helpful feedback from their tutor. Tutors use their extensive knowledge of apprentices’ workplaces to encourage them to use real examples when they answer questions. A few apprentices have used this feedback to improve the quality of their work.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders oversee effective systems and procedures to ensure that apprentices are safe. The designated safeguarding officers receive appropriate training. All members of staff have completed safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training within the last year.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders have a ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment and action plan that fulfils their statutory obligations. However, the risk assessment and the action plan are too generic. They do not address sufficiently the local and regional risks that apprentices may come across in the areas in which they live and work.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Apprentices know how to stay safe in work and how to keep others, for example the general public, safe when using leisure facilities. However, they are less confident in applying their safeguarding knowledge to their individual circumstances. Monitoring visit: Doncaster Conferences, Catering and Events Limited, 21–22 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.

p.4

Reasonable progress

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 .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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 .

p.5

Reasonable progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5