The Procurement Academy Limited

The Procurement Academy Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Jonny Wright, Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address: 15 Queen Square Leeds LS2 8AJ Monitoring visit: The Procurement Academy, 8 July 2021

p.1

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 follow-up safeguarding monitoring visit has been carried out consequent to the provider being found to be making insufficient progress with respect to safeguarding at its previous monitoring visit. It follows the arrangements outlined in the ‘Further education and skills inspection handbook’.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

The focus of this visit is only on the safeguarding theme below.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

The Procurement Academy provides levy-funded apprenticeships in locations that include Leeds, Doncaster, Sheffield, Manchester and Birmingham. Currently, 27 apprentices are on the standards-based apprenticeship in commercial procurement and supply chain at level 4. All apprentices are over 19 years of age.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

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

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders have not responded quickly enough since the previous monitoring visit to rectify weaknesses in safeguarding.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Too many tutors have not completed suitable safeguarding training, including in providing online learning safely. Tutors do not provide apprentices with informed guidance and support about following safe procedures when learning online.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders do not monitor how effectively firewalls and protection protocols on staff’s computers enable staff and apprentices to stay safe. They do not take responsibility for ensuring that staff’s computers can be used safely. Most tutors have protocols in place, but a small number of staff do not.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders have updated and put in place new policies on aspect of safeguarding that include online safety and the ‘Prevent’ duty and have produced information leaflets for apprentices. Apprentices acknowledge they have received this information, but too many remain unaware of the risks posed by radicalisation and extremism. Monitoring visit: The Procurement Academy, 8 July 2021 Leaders do not ensure that apprentices complete training in safeguarding. They send messages to apprentices with instructions to complete training but rely on apprentices submitting completion certificates to monitor the uptake of the training. Too few apprentices have completed training to date.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders do not have sufficient oversight of how well tutors support the development of apprentices’ understanding of how to recognise risks in their job roles. Tutors do not routinely ensure that apprentices develop their understanding. As a result, apprentices cannot identify specific risks related to their work in procurement.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Leaders have recently appointed a suitable member of staff to undertake formal progress reviews with apprentices and their employers. Reviews now focus on apprentices’ well-being and the extent to which apprentices feel safe. Staff have only recently commenced these reviews, and its impact on apprentices’ safety and well- being is yet to be determined. Monitoring visit: The Procurement Academy, 8 July 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

p.3

Insufficient progress

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.4

Insufficient progress

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.4

Insufficient progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.4

Insufficient progress

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.4