Evolve Education Ltd

Evolve Education Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Ian Higgins, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

We Work 55 Colmore Row Birmingham B3 2AA Monitoring visit: Evolve Education Limited, 6- 7 May 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

Evolve Education Limited offers apprenticeships in the level 3 learning mentor standard and the level 3 senior healthcare support worker standard. At the time of the visit, 47 apprentices were enrolled on the level 3 learning mentor standard. Nine apprentices were enrolled on the level 3 senior healthcare support worker standard and are all based at the Royal Marsden NHS Trust in London. The vast majority of apprentices on the level 3 learning mentor standard are based in schools, mentoring children and young people.

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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’ rationale for teaching the level 3 learning mentor standard, which accounts for most of the apprentices, is not clear. In the vast majority of cases, the job role of these apprentices does not allow them to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to meet the requirements of the level 3 learning mentor standard. Leaders and managers are not meeting the principles of an apprenticeship because they are not preparing apprentices sufficiently well for their final assessments. Leaders and managers have identified a clear rationale for teaching the level 3 senior healthcare support worker standard. They have developed very positive relationships with the Royal Marsden NHS Trust.

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Insufficient progress

Senior leaders have been too slow in assuring themselves that the apprentices on the level 3 learning mentor standard are in job roles that meet the requirements of the standard and the end-point assessment. A small number of apprentices on the level 3 healthcare support worker standard have gone through end-point assessment, achieving a distinction. Monitoring visit: Evolve Education Limited, 6- 7 May 2021 Senior leaders have recruited individuals from outside the company to a governance role. These individuals hold senior leaders to account to improve their quality systems and monitoring, for example. However, they provide insufficient challenge to senior leaders on the quality of education that apprentices receive. Their scrutiny is too narrowly focused on whether apprentices achieve their apprenticeship or not. Senior leaders are in the process of recruiting additional expertise to support governance.

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Insufficient progress

Senior leaders have recruited staff with the relevant vocational expertise to support their teaching of the curriculum. A minority of trainers have appropriate teaching qualifications. Senior leaders provide staff with a range of helpful training. This helps teachers in accessing and navigating a range of teaching software. However, leaders have rightly recognised the need to support trainers to develop their teaching skills. Leaders have secured funding to support trainers to achieve their teaching qualifications.

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Insufficient progress

In the majority of cases, apprentices are developing new knowledge, skills and behaviours which are highly relevant to their employer’s business and the job roles they undertake in the workplace. However, apprentices’ job roles are not aligned to the level 3 learning mentor apprenticeship standard and, as a result, learners are not developing the required knowledge, skills or behaviours to support success at their final assessment.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and trainers do not plan clearly how apprentices will link their off-the-job training with their day-to-day job role. In too many cases, trainers teach content in isolation from what apprentices are doing at work. As a result, many apprentices cannot link their theoretical understanding to their practical work.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and trainers have correctly recognised that they do not clearly identify what apprentices already know and need to know when they start their apprenticeship. Senior leaders have revisited the process to make sure that they rectify this weakness. However, the impact of this is not yet clear.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and trainers support apprentices well to develop their English and mathematics knowledge and skills. Leaders have appointed specialist tutors in these areas. Apprentices receive a range of support through one-to-one and small-group teaching. The development of English and mathematics is prioritised from the beginning, as apprentices start their learning.

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Insufficient progress

Senior leaders and trainers have put in place clear systems to monitor the progress that apprentices are making with their learning. Where apprentices are behind, clear plans are in place so that they can catch up. However, employers are not always sufficiently well involved. In many cases, employers are not present at the apprentices’ reviews. As a Monitoring visit: Evolve Education Limited, 6- 7 May 2021 result, the employer is not always clear on what the apprentice needs to do to catch up, and how they can best support the apprentice in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

A designated safeguarding lead and additional designated safeguarding officers are in place. They have all completed the appropriate safeguarding training.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have a clear understanding of how to safeguard the patients, children and young people with whom they work. For example, apprentices talk clearly about the potential signs of child exploitation and the process they would follow to report any concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have in place clear policies and procedures for the reporting and recording of any safeguarding disclosures. The designated safeguarding officer follows up any safeguarding disclosures appropriately. However, the records of these are not always clear.

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Reasonable progress

Evolve Education works with a range of key external partners in relation to safeguarding, for example with the local police force in the areas in which their apprentices are based. The provider uses this information to inform trainers of key information. However, all trainers need to use this information to make sure apprentices are aware of local risks.

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Reasonable progress

Evolve Education has a clear policy and procedure to ensure the safer recruitment of staff and completes appropriate references and checks on newly recruited staff.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices say that they feel safe and know where to go to report any concerns they may have. Apprentices can report any concerns through a number of dedicated telephone numbers and email addresses. Monitoring visit: Evolve Education Limited, 6- 7 May 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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