TES Training Limited

TES Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Sambit Sen, Her Majesty's Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

TES House Heath Business Park Grange Way Colchester CO2 8GU Monitoring visit: TES 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 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

TES Training Limited is an independent learning provider offering standards-based rail engineering apprenticeships across England. At the time of the monitoring visit, 11 apprentices were in learning. TES Training Limited provide level 2 rail engineering operative qualification.

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Context and focus of visit

During the national pandemic leaders and managers have maintained face-to-face training for the apprentices.

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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 and managers do not have effective arrangements for ensuring that apprentices are prepared for the end of course examinations. Leaders and managers have not communicated the examination requirements to the apprentices or to their employers. As a result, a small proportion of apprentices have finished their apprenticeship without completing their qualification. The remaining apprentices and their employers do not know what is required to pass their end of course examination.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers work effectively with employers to design training programmes that meet their business needs. For example, apprentices receive additional industry specific training, such as controller of site safety training and small tools training early on in their programme. This helps apprentices to quickly become valuable team members and take on more responsibilities at work.

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Reasonable progress

Managers recruit apprentices effectively onto the right apprenticeship course. Managers carry out in-depth interviews, arrange on-site work trials and use Monitoring visit: TES Training Limited, 26-27 May 2021 informative aptitude tests during the recruitment process. Apprentices are aware of the requirements of the job role from the start and most apprentices continue with their course.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers act promptly on the feedback they collect from apprentices and workplace mentors to improve the quality of training. For example, they changed how they provide the theory lessons. This helps apprentices to better focus and take an active part in their theory sessions.

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Reasonable progress

Governance arrangements are effective. The board of directors closely scrutinise the recruitment, retention, and career development of apprentices. Leaders work closely with the National Skills Academy for Rail to ensure that the quality of their training is of the highest standard.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers do not give meaningful feedback to the apprentices on the standard of their work. Therefore, apprentices do not know what they have done well and what they need to further improve upon.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices do not receive personalised training to help them make good progress on their course. Teachers do not use the starting points of apprentices to plan training effectively. For example, teachers do not use the prior knowledge and experience of apprentices to adapt the course content.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices gain a thorough understanding of the rail engineering sector. They learn complex mathematical equations to find the required safe distance between signal and track gauge. This helps them to apply their knowledge and skills appropriately in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices demonstrate positive attitudes at work and develop the appropriate workplace behaviours needed for them to thrive in the workplace. They have a good understanding of effective team working, completing tasks on time, and deal effectively with any potential conflicts in the workplace. As a result, workplace supervisors confidently allow apprentices to work independently.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers are highly experienced and have good knowledge of the rail sector. They provide high-quality, sector-specific training. Teachers make the theoretical elements of training relevant and interesting. For example, explaining the factors that affect the choice of railway gauges. This allows apprentices to understand how to apply their theory knowledge in practice. Monitoring visit: TES Training Limited, 26-27 May 2021

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe. They know how to keep themselves and others safe in the workplace. Employers enforce strict health and safety practices in the workplace which are fully understood by apprentices. Experienced apprentices complete specialist health and safety training. This equips them for taking on further responsibility for keeping their team members safe.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop good communications skills through their training. They know how to prevent potential incidents of suicide on railway tracks by using their good communication skills to talk to individuals and prevent them from self-harming.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and workplace mentors frequently check on the welfare and the well-being of the apprentices. Apprentices make effective use of a safety application on their smart phone to alert their managers and mentors to any aspects of their day-to-day work that may concern them. This helps apprentices raise any concerns they have and to receive the help they need. Monitoring visit: TES 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

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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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