Data Law Limited

Data Law Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector:

Alison Cameron Brandwood, Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection dates: 14–15 April 2021

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Name of lead inspector:

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

3a Bridgewater Street Baltic Triangle Liverpool L1 0AR Monitoring visit: Data Law 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

Data Law Limited is an independent training provider based in Liverpool, Merseyside. It specialises in training for the legal profession and works with employers nationally. At the time of the visit, there were 98 apprentices studying standards-based apprenticeships. Over half of apprentices were studying apprenticeships in leadership and management at levels 3 and 5. The rest were on level 3 paralegal apprenticeships and level 3 IT technical salesperson apprenticeships.

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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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Insufficient progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for their apprenticeship provision. They focus on upskilling those working in the legal sector. Leaders developed the level 3 paralegal curriculum to provide legal expertise for administrative staff working in law firms. Leaders recruit apprentices with integrity. They take on apprentices who do not already have extensive knowledge or qualifications of the apprenticeships they are studying.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not ensure that they meet the principles or requirements of an apprenticeship. They do not coordinate what apprentices learn on- and off-the-job. Apprentices complete units in the same order regardless of their job role at work. They do not have the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge and hone their skills by practising what they have learned.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have been too slow to identify weaknesses at the provider. They rely too much on the experience of consultants to set up and run their apprenticeships. Leaders do not have enough experience in managing Monitoring visit: Data Law Limited, 14–15 April 2021 apprenticeships to be able to challenge the advice they get from their consultants. Leaders have yet to begin to put in place all the improvements in their action plan.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have started to implement actions to improve employer engagement, but progress is too slow. Employers are not involved in the development of the curriculum. Leaders do not ensure that employers are routinely involved in apprentices’ reviews. They have introduced new paperwork and procedures to improve communication with employers. Employers support apprentices to complete their off-the-job training hours in work time.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have been slow to identify and engage with assessment organisations. Apprentices have limited knowledge of the requirements of their final assessments. Level 3 team leader apprentices, who are nearing the end of their course, have not received adequate training and support to prepare them for their final assessment.

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Insufficient progress

Formal governance arrangements are not yet in place. Leaders have plans to introduce an apprenticeship governance board.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours that benefit their employer’s business. Level 3 paralegal apprentices describe accurately legal terminology such as plaintiff and multi-track cases. Level 5 operations manager apprentices put in place new ideas at work, such as case-file review systems.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not have oversight of apprentices’ progress. They do not sufficiently measure apprentices’ progress from their starting points. Leaders do not ensure that coaches revisit the skills assessment that apprentices complete at the beginning of their programme. Leaders do not know whether apprentices are making good progress or are falling behind.

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Insufficient progress

Too many apprentices make slow progress. Leaders do not ensure that apprentices receive enough training and support. Apprentices are left to learn independently with very little teaching. Coaches carry out monthly coaching calls to apprentices, which often last less than half an hour. Between these monthly calls, apprentices complete questions and research with little or no support from their coach.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not provide training for coaches on the craft of teaching or the delivery of apprenticeships. Coaches do not understand the requirements of an apprenticeship. Most coaches are experienced in the legal sector, but are inexperienced in teaching apprenticeships.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not provide appropriate training for apprentices who require functional skills English and mathematics. They have been slow to identify which apprentices Monitoring visit: Data Law Limited, 14–15 April 2021 need to complete these qualifications. Leaders have no plans in place for apprentices to complete functional skills examinations.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not provide apprentices with careers advice and guidance. Apprentices do their own research when planning their next steps, such as how to become a solicitor or a court advocate.

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Insufficient progress

Apprentices benefit from access to an extensive online library that includes webinars by experts in their fields. They broaden their knowledge in topics such as probate, money laundering and family law.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have in place appropriate safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty policies. They carry out appropriate checks when recruiting new staff. The safeguarding leads keep themselves up to date with changes in safeguarding legislation. They update themselves on safeguarding information relating to the legal profession.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders deal appropriately with, and monitor safeguarding referrals. They have started to contact local agencies and have established a bank of contacts in the North West region in case they need to make any safeguarding referrals. They recognise they need to replicate this practice for the other regions they work in.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe, and most know to whom they would report any safeguarding concerns. Apprentices are introduced to safeguarding during their induction, but it may be several months before they complete the online safeguarding training module. Most apprentices are unaware of the dangers they may face from radicalisation or extremism personally or professionally. Monitoring visit: Data Law 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

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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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