The NVQ Training Centre Limited

NVQ Training Centre Limited Progress monitoring report

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Name of lead inspector: Sharon Dowling, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Hastingwood Industrial Park Wood Lane Erdington Birmingham B24 9QR Monitoring visit: NVQ Training Centre Limited 18–19 February 2021

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Context and focus of visit

NVQ Training Centre Limited received a new provider monitoring visit in October 2018. At that time, inspectors made progress judgements under three themes.

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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 and training 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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Insufficient progress

Since the last monitoring visit leaders have implemented a process of governance. They have co-opted staff from other parts of the company and are in the process of agreeing the recruitment of an external member to the board.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not have sufficiently well-established processes to allow them to challenge consistently apprentices’ progress. As a result, the intervention to support some learners is too slow and learning support needs are not always identified and supported quickly enough. Monitoring visit: NVQ Training Centre Limited 18–19 February 2021 Managers have implemented an observation of teaching and learning process and completed appraisals. However, this approach does not inform improvements in teaching, and has not been adapted to the observation of online learning.

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Insufficient progress

Since the last monitoring visit, leaders have not ensured that tutors consistently use the starting points of apprentices effectively to inform learning or provide the support required. Tutors of apprentices following the level 5 operations and departmental manager standard routinely use starting points to target apprentices’ learning. However, too many apprentices enrolled on other programmes do not benefit from the same adaptations and follow a standard programme of learning.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors do not consistently support apprentices to develop their English and mathematics skills. Apprentices work independently using an online learning package; too many apprentices are behind in their studies and are not being supported to meet their potential in these subjects. For example, apprentices who speak English as an additional language are working independently through the online learning package without any supporting teaching.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not plan the curriculum effectively. The apprenticeship standards are translated into elements of learning in a development plan. However, leaders do not plan learning based on the employer’s needs or apprentices’ starting points. Tutors do not consistently link learning from activities that take place in the workplace to the knowledge that is being developed.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices complete off-the-job training records, and limited reflection of apprentices’ skills development is evident. However, not all apprentices are given the time they need to study in the workplace. As a result, some apprentices fall behind in their studies. Too few apprentices can clearly recall learning that has taken place over time.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices are not supported well enough to be able to meet their potential. The knowledge required by the standard is taught through a range of workbooks. In some sessions apprentices receive teaching around the workbook through one-to-one and group sessions; however, others are left to work through workbooks independently and do not receive the support they need. For example, some apprentices midway through their standard had not received any tutoring other than a phone call to support them with the completion of their workbook.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors and managers do not provide sufficient focus on careers and progression opportunities during the apprenticeship. Careers advice and guidance are mostly confined to the apprenticeship enrolment process. As a result, too many learners are unaware of the full range of opportunites available to them when they complete their apprenticeship.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders responded quickly to the initial national lockdown, supporting staff with training to use equipment and supporting learners with a range of alternative methods of working – online, posted workbooks, and telephone calls. Monitoring visit: NVQ Training Centre Limited 18–19 February 2021 Leaders used relationships with employers and other stakeholders, such as the West Midlands Combined Authority, to develop a curriculum that meets the needs of the local community, with national provision expanding from initial delivery in the West Midlands region. They work with employers to support specific skills development, and recently took over a delivery contract for a large national employer to support learners to complete their apprenticeships.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices demonstrate a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe and have completed online training on safeguarding, including staying safe online.

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Insufficient progress

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

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Insufficient progress

 improve the quality of training for tutors, including in teaching remotely, to develop their skills, so as to provide apprentices with suitable online learning opportunities  improve the assessment of apprentices’ starting points to inform the planning of the curriculum to fill the gaps in apprentices’ skills and knowledge, ensuring that apprentices with additional learning needs are identified and supported from the outset of the course  ensure that tutors plan and teach the curriculum to allow apprentices to improve their skills and knowledge over time, to enable apprentices to complete their course, fulfil their job roles and meet their potential. Monitoring visit: NVQ Training Centre Limited 18–19 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

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Insufficient progress

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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Insufficient progress

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Insufficient progress

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Insufficient progress

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

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