Trans-Plant Training Limited

Trans-Plant Mastertrain Ltd Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Nick Crombie, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

The Matford Centre Matford Park Road Marsh Barton Exeter Devon EX2 8FD Monitoring visit: Trans-plant Mastertrain Ltd,22-23 March 2021

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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 monitoring visit was undertaken as part of those arrangements and as outlined in the Further education and skills inspection handbook, especially the sections entitled ‘Monitoring visits’ and ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly publicly funded’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Trans-Plant Mastertrain Ltd (TPMT) is based in Exeter and the great majority of its apprentices are based in the south West of England. TPMT currently offers five apprenticeship programmes at level 2: large goods vehicle (LGV) driver; construction plant operative; lifting technician; supply chain warehouse operative and waste resource operative. The LGV apprenticeship is by far the largest in terms of the number of apprentices. TPMT is currently one of only two providers in England to offer the lifting technician apprenticeship. TPMT offers one programme at level 3,the business administrator apprenticeship.

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Context and focus of visit

TPMT has not offered face-to-face training since the start of the pandemic. The impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below. For example, the Driver Vehicle and Standards Agency has suspended driver training and tests until 12 April this year.

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Reasonable progress

Since January 2021, TPMT’s senior leaders and staff team have focused very strongly and, initially successfully, on restructuring and expanding the scope of the apprenticeship curriculum so that it better meets the needs of apprentices and employers.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have increased the number of apprentices rapidly and substantially since December 2020, through a combination of repeat and new business with employers. A few of the current employers are past apprentices of TPMT, now employing current apprentices. The provider recently took over six apprentices who were already around nine months into their programme from another provider. After an intensive training programme at TPMT, all these apprentices passed their end point assessments the week before our visit. Monitoring visit: Trans-plant Mastertrain Ltd,22-23 March 2021 Apprentices are recruited with integrity. Leaders compile detailed and meaningful commitment statements for each apprentice, which are challenging and demanding. Employers understand their role in the apprenticeship and are closely involved in providing work opportunities to support apprentices’ learning. All employers reported their business needs are being met as a result of upskilling their workforces. TPMT’s

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Reasonable progress

leaders have introduced an online resource which gives them and their employers direct oversight of their apprentices’ progress.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders’ approach to identifying strengths and tackling weaknesses in the quality of the provision is based on accurate and thorough self-assessment and closely related quality improvement planning. Actions to eliminate weaknesses are specific and swift, and progress is measurable. Leaders recognise they have a particular challenge in ensuring that all employers understand, and apprentices receive, the full entitlement to off-the-job training. Currently, too few apprentices are attending the planned schedule of online training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have implemented a new system of governance. They have appointed two external advisors with extensive experience of apprenticeships to join a ‘curriculum and standards’ committee, to provide leaders with support and challenge regarding the company’s overall performance, apprentices’ progress and the performance management of staff.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that the revised curriculum is providing apprentices with successive building blocks of learning, which develop their skills, knowledge and behaviours progressively. The curriculum has been expanded to include online taught ‘masterclasses’ in individual health and well-being, employment skills, and personal safety. Apprentices will soon be able to gain an additional qualification in First Aid.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have a three-stage, carefully structured induction from which they gain a thorough understanding of their apprenticeship training, their responsibilities, the support available from TPMT staff and receive informed advice on their career paths. The induction includes an initial assessment of their English, mathematics and digital skills, and a skills scan, which assessors use to build on apprentices’ existing skills, identify areas for development and put appropriate support in place.

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Reasonable progress

Even though most apprentices have not been following their programmes for long they, and their employers, recognise that they are beginning to develop substantial new skills and can do more as a result. For example, LGV apprentices have developed a good understanding of the theoretical components of driving, such as hours regulations, weight distribution, daily maintenance checks and compliance requirements. The sole business administration apprentice is developing a digital Monitoring visit: Trans-plant Mastertrain Ltd,22-23 March 2021 infrastructure for business development and is supporting a project to reduce digital poverty. A few apprentices are frustrated by the lack of practical training but accept that this is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most apprentices are actively using the online learning resources now available to them.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and teaching staff review lesson plans and schemes of work after each online session, identifying what went well and what could be improved. Leaders have conducted surveys with employers to gather their views on the apprenticeship programme. While most are positive about the impact of the training on their businesses, too many are unclear about apprentices’ entitlement to off-the-job training.

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Reasonable progress

Three senior staff have been appointed to lead or deputy lead safeguarding roles. These and all other staff have received relevant training which is updated regularly.

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Reasonable progress

TMPT staff pay close attention to ensuring that apprentices are safe. All staff have undergone enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks and effective safe recruitment arrangements are in place. Safeguarding leaders maintain contact with a useful range of external safeguarding contacts and agencies.

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Reasonable progress

At the time of our visit, two apprentices were under 18 years of age. These two, and all apprentices we interviewed, confirmed they felt safe and had a good understanding of health and safety in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders had dealt with two low-level safeguarding issues appropriately, subsequently using them as a basis for staff training. Leaders have made apprentices aware of local and regional issues involving online radicalisation.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive training and information about safeguarding, the Prevent strategy, British values and equality and diversity during their induction and subsequently during reviews, but their recall of these themes is patchy. Monitoring visit: Trans-plant Mastertrain Ltd,22-23 March 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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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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