Willing and Able Limited

Willing and Able Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Gayle Saundry, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection date(s): 21 to 22 October 2020

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Unit 317 23 Austin Friars London EC2N 2QP Monitoring visit: Willing and Able Limited, 21 to 22 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

Willing and Able Limited is a training provider based in London. Established in 1999 as a healthcare recruitment agency, Willing and Able began to offer apprenticeship programmes to levy-paying employers in July 2018. Currently, Willing and Able has 15 apprentices on associate project management at level 4, 13 apprentices on facilities manager at level 4, 12 apprentices on human resources (HR) support at level 3, and 10 apprentices on a range of standards in management, accountancy and content production at levels 3 and 5. All apprentices are over 18 years of age.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have not made the improvements necessary from the previous monitoring visit to ensure that the programmes they teach fully meet the requirements of an apprenticeship. For example, too many apprentices do not have enough off-the-job training. Apprentices whom inspectors spoke with remain extremely dissatisfied by the training and support provided by Willing and Able. Monitoring visit: Willing and Able Limited, 21 to 22 October 2020 Leaders have not improved the way in which they work with employers. Employers do not have input into what is taught to their apprentices and when. As a result, they are unable to plan suitable opportunities for apprentices to apply their learning in the workplace.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have not managed changes in teaching staff effectively. A high turnover of learning mentors has resulted in a lack of continuity for apprentices, disrupted their learning and caused confusion. As a result, many apprentices do not know how much progress they have made through their apprenticeship. Many apprentices do not know what they need to do to complete their final assessments, even though they are long past their planned end date.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their apprenticeship programme. Leaders have not sufficiently engaged with their improvement partner since their previous monitoring visit. As a result, they have received insufficient scrutiny of the quality of their training or the pace of improvements. Leaders have been slow to put in place a suitable team to improve their apprenticeship programme. The actions taken by the newly appointed team are so recent that apprentices are yet to see their benefit.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have recently implemented a new management information system. While this process is in its infancy, leaders now have a more accurate picture of the progress apprentices make.

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Insufficient progress

Since the previous monitoring visit, leaders have improved their communication with learning mentors by creating a weekly report. Leaders have begun to use the information they gather to provide tailored support to apprentices.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have not planned or delivered an effective curriculum. The majority of apprentices have not received any new teaching for many months. Leaders have not adapted the design of their curriculum to meet the needs of employers when deciding what to teach and when. As a result, apprentices have not developed substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours.

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Insufficient progress

Learning mentors do not conduct frequent reviews with apprentices and their managers. Where reviews have taken place, mentors do not evaluate what the apprentice is doing well, or set meaningful targets for improvement. Where learning mentors note that an apprentice is falling behind, they do not create a plan to support the apprentice to get back on track.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have not provided suitable opportunities for all apprentices to develop their knowledge and use of English and mathematics. Learning mentors do not provide Monitoring visit: Willing and Able Limited, 21 to 22 October 2020 useful feedback to apprentices on how they can improve their written work. As a result, apprentices and their managers do not know what apprentices need to do to improve.

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Insufficient progress

The majority of apprentices do not understand the timing, structure or content of their final assessments. Many apprentices are not clear about what they need to do in order to achieve high grades in their final assessments.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not provide learning mentors with training on how to teach effective lessons online, following a move from face-to-face to online teaching. Learning mentors have sought feedback from apprentices and are using this feedback to improve their lessons.

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Insufficient progress

Learning mentors are appropriately qualified in the subjects that they teach. They sequence the curriculum sensibly to ensure that apprentices learn basic topics before moving on to more complex work.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place the necessary safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty policies and action plans. The designated safeguarding lead is appropriately trained for their role. They stay up to date with safeguarding developments and share these with apprentices and staff through frequent well-being newsletters.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders complete appropriate activities, including background checks when appointing new staff. Leaders provide safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training to staff and apprentices during their induction. Learning mentors have a sound knowledge of the potential risks of radicalisation and extremism.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have not provided staff or apprentices with additional training on staying safe online since their move to online learning. While apprentices would approach the apprenticeship team should they have a safeguarding concern, they are unsure who their main point of contact is. Monitoring visit: Willing and Able Limited, 21 to 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

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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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