Plymouth City Council

Plymouth City Council Progress monitoring report

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Name of lead inspector: Jon Bowman, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Address: Floor 2 Hyde Park House Mutley Plain Plymouth PL4 6LF Monitoring visit: Plymouth City Council, 3–4 February 2021

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Context and focus of visit

Plymouth City Council was last inspected in June 2019. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement .

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Context and focus of visit

This monitoring visit focused on the extent to which leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action to provide education in the current circumstances. It was undertaken as outlined in the operational note on visits carried out from January 2021 and with reference to the further education and skills handbook.

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Context and focus of visit

These visits are to help learners, parents, employers and government understand how providers are meeting the needs of learners in this period, including those with high needs and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Context and focus of visit

Following changes to government guidance and the imposition of COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions, inspectors carried out this monitoring activity remotely. As a result, the range of evidence available to inspectors was narrower than would be the case during an on-site inspection. Therefore, this report provides a more limited level of assurance.

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Context and focus of visit

The impact of COVID-19 has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgement below. Inspectors did not evaluate leaders’ response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer of 2020, when the provider was not open to all learners and there were no national expectations regarding remote education.

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Significant progress

In response to the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection senior leaders acted swiftly. They have put in place highly effective arrangements to govern and manage the provision. There is now good expertise within the council to improve the quality of education provided.

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Significant progress

The new adult education board provides very effective scrutiny of the provision through frequent reviews of a good range of performance data and information. The expertise of board members ensures that the courses offered closely match and make a strong contribution to the priorities of the city. For example, a new sector- Monitoring visit: Plymouth City Council, 3–4 February 2021 based work academy acts as a steppingstone for residents into the care sector, where there is a growing level of demand in the city.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers have adapted the curriculum well to meet the changing needs of residents as a result of the pandemic. For example, in partnership with schools they have developed a course to help parents who are digitally excluded to support their children who are learning from home.

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Significant progress

Leaders, managers and subcontractors take effective action to improve the quality of the provision. For example, the adult education board directed additional funding to one subcontractor to support improvements. Through investing in new resources, training for tutors and a new online learning platform, leaders and managers have been able to improve the quality of education provided. As a result, young people rapidly develop their English and mathematics skills.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers have improved the quality of the English and mathematics curriculum across the provision. They invested well in developing the existing skills of tutors and recruited new tutors. Tutors meet frequently to share good practice. They make good use of what learners know about English and mathematics to provide individually tailored pre-course support to them. As a result, adult learners are well prepared when they start their functional skills course.

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Significant progress

Tutors who teach English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) have expert subject knowledge. They are confident in teaching online. For example, they use videos, interactive whiteboards and break out rooms that motivate learners well in lessons. Through practice and repetition, learners improve their pronunciation of common words and phrases to use, for example in ordering food and drink. Learners quickly improve their vocabulary and pronunciation. Learners say that the new skills they acquire help them to become more independent in their day-to-day lives.

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Significant progress

Leaders have put in place a digital infrastructure, including internet access and laptops so that vulnerable ESOL learners can access learning. This allows asylum seekers, refugees and their families to develop the language skills that they need to better take part in the communities in which they live. Learners are motivated to learn and increasingly become confident in using the new vocabulary they develop.

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Significant progress

Young learners benefit significantly from a well-structured and interesting online curriculum. Learners enjoy the daily routine of set work, independent learning and taught lessons. Tutors have a very secure grasp of what learners have remembered through, for example, using quizzes to check learning. Tutors are in frequent contact with learners to check that they are up to date with their work. Learners enjoy and benefit from the regular contact with their peers in online lessons that helps them combat feelings of social isolation.

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Significant progress

Learners receive very effective support from tutors and staff. Managers and tutors closely monitor the progress that learners make. Managers and tutors make good judgements about the additional support that learners need to be successful in their studies. Learners are rightly positive about the support the receive from their tutors. Monitoring visit: Plymouth City Council, 3–4 February 2021 Staff respond very well to the changing needs of learners during the current lockdown. Learners are supported so that they have the technical skills and knowledge to take part in remote lessons and courses. More adults are making enquiries about what courses they can take to change careers or job roles and staff provide good guidance to help them explore their options.

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Significant progress

Learners know how to stay safe online and know who to contact if they have any concerns.

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Significant progress

Leaders and those responsible for governance should take further action to:

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Significant progress

 continue to develop the range of courses taught to meet the changing needs of Plymouth’s adult learners and young people. Monitoring visit: Plymouth City Council, 3–4 February 2021 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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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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

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