Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre Limited

Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Emma Woods, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Unit 3, 4 & 5 Runway Business Park Moor Farm Road Ashbourne DE6 1HD Monitoring visit: Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre Limited, 14–15 April 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

Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre Limited began training level 3 gas engineering operative apprentices in March 2020. At the time of the monitoring visit there were 35 apprentices who train in a specialist training centre.

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Context and focus of visit

The impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for training gas engineers. They have extensive experience in this area and understand employer needs. Leaders have effective partnerships with local schools to address the demand. This allows young people to progress and become gas engineers.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship are met. Most apprentices are new to working in the gas industry. Their previous qualifications and experience are considered carefully to check that the apprenticeship is right for them. Where they have any relevant prior learning, such as completing a plumbing course, this is reflected in their individual learning plans.

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Reasonable progress

Employers have a good understanding of their responsibilities and commitments to their apprentices. They prioritise apprentice attendance at training days, even when there are significant demands at work.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are yet to ensure that apprentices and tutors have a good enough understanding of the apprenticeship final assessment. Tutors only understand the basic components of the assessment and apprentices are not aware of how they can achieve a distinction grade. Monitoring visit: Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre Limited, 14–15 April 2021 Leaders invest in suitably equipped workshops and classrooms. They recruit tutors with extensive industry skills and support them well to develop their teaching practice. Plans for tutors to complete teacher training qualifications have been delayed due to COVID-19.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders evaluate their strengths and areas for improvement but recognise there is more work to be done. This means it is hard for them to prioritise which improvement activities are most important.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are yet to put in place any formal governance arrangements. These arrangements would help to challenge leaders’ oversight of policies, procedures and priorities for improvement.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop the specialist skills and detailed knowledge they need to become gas engineers. Employers are right to be happy with the impact that apprentices have on their businesses. Apprentices confidently share new boiler techniques with experienced team members or quickly apply formulas from memory when carrying out installations.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors develop coherent training plans and provide well-taught, weekly theoretical and practical lessons. Employers supplement this training with additional help and guidance in the workplace. However, tutors do not work with employers to plan this on-the-job training systematically. It is reliant on apprentices telling their employers what they have studied.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors use their experience and expert knowledge to provide apprentices with clear explanations which they enhance with real examples. They respond well to a wide variety of questions from apprentices. Tutors’ own use of questioning can be less effective, focusing too much on apprentices’ recall rather than their understanding.

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Reasonable progress

Many elements of the apprenticeship include the use of mathematics and, as a result, apprentices develop their mathematical skills well. Tutors include opportunities to help apprentices improve their writing skills. For example, ‘thought of the day’ activities where apprentices write about a topical theme. This is not yet systematic enough to help apprentices who need to improve their writing skills.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors do not record well enough information about the progress that apprentices make. They do not always complete formal reviews on time. When they do, they do not record in sufficient detail what apprentices know and can do or what they need to work on further to improve their skills and understanding. Monitoring visit: Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre Limited, 14–15 April 2021

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and tutors pay close attention to apprentices’ welfare. Apprentices feel safe and know who to contact if they require any support. Extra calls made by tutors to apprentices during lockdown had a positive impact on their motivation and well-being.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are very clear on the health and safety requirements for their roles and how to work safely . They are less clear on some of the broader risks they might experience such as extremist views, and how to challenge these.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors know how to respond to safeguarding concerns or disclosures. They ask non- leading questions, record information on the cause for concern form, and report any concerns to the safeguarding lead.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers recognise that there were some minor deficiencies in some of the safeguarding paperwork. They took swift action to address these and plans are in place to monitor this more closely in the future. Monitoring visit: Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre Limited, 14–15 April 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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