Ashley Community & Housing Ltd

Ashley Community & Housing Ltd Progress monitoring report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Jonny Wright, Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

2nd Floor, Eden House Eastgate Office Park Eastgate Road Bristol BS5 6XY Monitoring visit: Ashley Community & Housing Ltd, 2–3 February 2021

p.1

Context and focus of visit

Ashley Community & Housing Ltd was last inspected in January 2020. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have made insufficient progress in improving the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Staff do not identify sufficiently applicants’ suitability for an apprenticeship. They do not identify apprentices’ prior knowledge and skills accurately. Apprentices who have been in employment in their job role for a significant period of time already have substantial knowledge and skills. As a result, too many apprentices are on courses that do not help them develop new knowledge and skills.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Staff do not work effectively enough with employers to enable apprentices to practise their skills in the workplace. Staff do not plan the ordering of the Monitoring visit: Ashley Community & Housing Ltd, 2–3 February 2021 apprenticeship well enough with employers, including apprentices’ on- and off-the- job training. Staff do not ensure that employers are involved fully in apprentices’ progress reviews. Too often, employers’ comments do not identify suitable areas for improvement to help apprentices develop further their work-related knowledge and skills.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Trainers do not provide sufficiently helpful feedback to enable apprentices to improve the quality of their work over time. Feedback from trainers focuses primarily on whether the work has been completed, rather than evaluating the quality of the work and identifying how apprentices can make improvements.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Trainers do not support apprentices to develop their literacy skills well enough. They do not help apprentices to write correctly. Too often, trainers do not identify spelling and grammar errors in apprentices’ work. This results in apprentices repeatedly making the same mistakes in their work. For example, many apprentices struggle to use apostrophes correctly. Managers have recently introduced online English and mathematics teaching for apprentices who need qualifications to achieve their apprenticeship. However, it is too early to evaluate whether this is having an impact on apprentices’ skills development.

p.3

Insufficient progress

In response to the latest national COVID-19 restrictions, managers changed to teaching the curriculum online to ensure apprentices continue to learn. Staff make appropriate use of online videos and online workshops to develop apprentices’ knowledge and skills. They divide the content of taught material into ‘bite-size’ sessions to maintain apprentices’ motivation and concentration. Managers plan to provide apprentices with intensive face-to-face teaching of the practical elements of the apprenticeship when the current national COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Managers work with employers to ensure apprentices have access to appropriate technology and equipment to enable them to learn online. However, many apprentices do not have the required computer skills to benefit fully from online teaching sessions.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Apprentices feel well supported by staff. They speak positively about the encouragement and helpful direction they receive from staff to help them make progress with their course work.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Managers identify accurately the apprentices who require extra help. During the pandemic, managers have carried out welfare contact calls to all apprentices to ensure that they are safe and well. Staff contact apprentices who are shielding or self-isolating more frequently.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Staff have adapted the way that they support apprentices to stay safe in the pandemic. Staff provide apprentices with frequent updates on new risks arising from the pandemic including online scams, the risk of radicalisation when isolated at home, and how to recognise signs of domestic abuse. Monitoring visit: Ashley Community & Housing Ltd, 2–3 February 2021 Since the previous inspection, governors, leaders and managers have changed the focus of the apprenticeships they teach. They have stopped subcontracting the wider range of apprenticeships, and the small number of level 2 property maintenance operative standards-based apprenticeships are now taught by provider staff. Leaders and managers plan to expand the apprenticeships into higher levels in property maintenance and property management to provide apprentices with a clear career path. Governors have strengthened the board to include new members with

p.3

Insufficient progress

experience of working closely with employers and in apprenticeships.

p.4

Insufficient progress

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

p.4

Insufficient progress

 ensure that staff accurately identify applicants’ prior knowledge and skills to ensure apprentices are able to develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours during their apprenticeship  ensure that staff work more closely with employers to enable apprentices to practise and develop their skills in the workplace  ensure that trainers provide apprentices with constructive feedback, so that they improve the quality of their work. Monitoring visit: Ashley Community & Housing Ltd, 2–3 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

p.4

Insufficient progress

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.5

Insufficient 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

Insufficient 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

Insufficient progress

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

p.5

Insufficient progress

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

p.5