Nextstep Training Limited

NextStep Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Saher Nijabat, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Unit A2 1b Mentmore Terrace London E8 3DQ Monitoring visit: NextStep Training Limited, 26–27 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 the Education and Skills Funding Agency 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

NextStep Training Limited is an independent training provider based in east London. The provider has experience in teaching apprenticeships and traineeships as a subcontractor and started training apprentices on their direct contract in February 2020. NextStep training offers standard-based apprenticeships in the subject sector areas of information and communication technology (ICT), business, administration and law and health, public services and care.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, the provider was training approximately 50 apprentices, of which 34 apprentices were on adult care level 2, 3 and 5 programmes. Currently, the provider is following a blended teaching approach, with most of the training activities taking place online. The impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below.

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Insufficient progress

The experience of apprentices on different programmes, and with different employers is markedly varied. This reflects the extent to which leaders and managers have not been able to establish effectiveness across all programmes in their oversight of the apprenticeships. They have been more successful with apprenticeships in business administration and ICT, than in care sector apprenticeships.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not adequately ensure that the requirements of apprenticeship programmes are met. They do not ensure that apprentices and employers have a good enough overview of what the different components of an apprenticeship entail. For example, they do not plan well enough when the off-the- job training will take place. Too many apprentices do not have a clear plan of when they will complete their coursework. Monitoring visit: NextStep Training Limited, 26–27 May 2021 Leaders and managers have been too slow in giving apprentices suitable support to develop their knowledge of English and mathematics. Consequently, apprentices who are nearing the end of their apprenticeship are unprepared and do not know when they will achieve this component of their programme.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not keep accurate enough records relating to their apprentices across all programmes. Inspectors found a few cases of apprentices who did not know they were enrolled on an apprenticeship and others whose job roles were inappropriate for their level of study.

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Insufficient progress

Staff are experienced and qualified assessors and tutors. Leaders and managers provide appropriate training and funding for staff to complete teaching and assessor courses to develop their teaching practice. However, they do not adequately check the quality of their staff’s work to facilitate continuous improvement.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not have sufficient and timely checks in place to monitor apprentices’ progress. Although there are systems and processes in place to track apprentices’ progress, staff do not implement these fully. Consequently, leaders and managers do not have accurate oversight of the progress of apprentices.

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Insufficient progress

As reflected in the mixed success of leadership across different programmes, the quality of training that apprentices receive varies markedly depending on the apprenticeship they study. Too often, in planning and teaching the apprenticeships, tutors do not take into consideration well enough what apprentices already know and can do at the start of the programme. As a result, they do not give apprentices the full support they need. Staff do not check and record apprentices’ progress across all parts of their apprenticeship. For example, tutors and assessors do not know which apprentices need to achieve qualifications in English and mathematics.

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Insufficient progress

In most cases, apprentices’ work is of the minimum standard required and does not reflect sufficiently the level of knowledge, understanding and writing skills appropriate to their programme. In their feedback on apprentices’ work, particularly on adult care programmes, tutors do not give clear enough information on what apprentices need to do to improve their work. Consequently, apprentices make limited progress.

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Insufficient progress

In a few cases, leaders and managers have not taken appropriate action to ensure that the apprentices have suitable jobs to apply their learning at work. Staff do not track apprentices’ off-the-job training closely enough, and a minority of employers are not aware that apprentices should have time in work for this training. Staff do not always plan the on-the-job training effectively enough with employers. As a Monitoring visit: NextStep Training Limited, 26–27 May 2021 result, apprentices do not have sufficient opportunities to put their learning into practice in the workplace.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors and assessors discuss with apprentices any emerging changes in their jobs and adapt their teaching accordingly. For example, tutors make sure apprentices learn about topics such as managing change early on the programme. They focus on teaching communication skills and emotional intelligence for apprentices going through changes in the workplace. Employers recognise the improved personal skills and confidence which apprentices apply successfully in the workplace.

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Insufficient progress

Staff do not prepare apprentices effectively enough for their final assessments. They do not ensure that apprentices know well how they will be assessed at the end of their apprenticeship. Most apprentices who are a few months away from completion are not clear about what they need to do to pass or get distinctions.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have put in place suitable arrangements to ensure the safety of their apprentices. They make sure that staff they recruit are safe for working with their learners. They have two named designated safeguarding leads who are appropriately trained for their role.

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Reasonable progress

Staff complete suitable online training on safeguarding and related topics. They have established useful links with external agencies such as the local safeguarding team to ensure apprentices have access to appropriate specialist support when needed.

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Reasonable progress

Although leaders and managers have a reasonable understanding of the emerging risks specific to their apprentices, such as false propaganda around the COVID-19 vaccine, they do not update their risk assessments to reflect relevant safety measures.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe and know who to contact if they have any safety concerns. They revisit safeguarding with their tutors in their progress reviews. For example, they discuss topics such as online safety and know how to stay safe online. Monitoring visit: NextStep Training Limited, 26–27 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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