Exalt Training

Exalt 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 7 Leanne Business Park Sandford Lane Wareham, Dorset BH20 4DY Monitoring visit: Exalt Training Limited, 19–20 August 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 (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

Exalt Training Limited (ETL), previously trading as The Beauty Training College Limited, changed ownership in November 2019. In June 2020, ETL had to reapply and was awarded a new contract with the ESFA. At the time of the monitoring visit, ETL provided training to 352 apprentices. ETL offered 20 programmes between levels 2 and 5, with delivery across different regions, including the West Midlands, the South West and the North West. The apprenticeships on offer covered a range of subjects, with their largest areas being dental nursing, early years, adult care, and leadership and management qualifications.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the visit, ETL were teaching all their apprentices online as a result of COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions. The impact of COVID-19 has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders carefully consider the needs of the employers and the local authorities with whom they work to offer an appropriate range of apprenticeship programmes. They have responded well to the shortages of a skilled workforce in the dental nursing and adult care sectors by offering apprenticeships in these subject areas.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders plan the curriculum effectively to address employers’ needs. For a healthcare employer struggling with staff conduct issues, leaders included their discharge policy and revised standards of conduct within the curriculum. Employers value the quality of training and support apprentices receive. Monitoring visit: Exalt Training Limited, 19–20 August 2021 Governors receive regular reports on the performance of the provider and are well aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They use this information well to support and challenge senior leaders to improve the quality of the provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders monitor the quality of education appropriately through a range of activities. They carry out regular observations of teaching and collect feedback from apprentices and their employers. Skills coaches receive detailed and constructive feedback from their managers, which helps them to improve their teaching practice.

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Reasonable progress

Skills coaches are well qualified, and most continue to work within the subject sectors they teach. Consequently, they understand the sectors well and provide helpful advice and guidance to their apprentices on career progression.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit apprentices conscientiously and ensure that the employers and apprentices have a good understanding of the requirements of off-the-job training and progress reviews. Most apprentices receive their entitlement to off-the-job training. Where employers do not commit to this element, leaders have discontinued working with them.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices have made expected progress in developing new knowledge, skills and behaviours and are on track to achieve their apprenticeship. However, leaders do not have adequate oversight of apprentices’ progress in English and mathematics. A significant minority of dental nursing and adult care apprentices do not know how and when they will achieve this element of their apprenticeship programme.

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Reasonable progress

Skills coaches plan and teach the curriculum logically, allowing apprentices to build on their skills and knowledge gradually. For example, dental nursing apprentices learn about the roles and responsibilities of a dental nurse at the start. Towards the end, they learn about medical emergencies and dental diseases.

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Reasonable progress

Skills coaches teach apprentices effectively to develop new knowledge and skills through online workshops and one-to-one sessions. Apprentices studying business and management learn how to better identify customers’ needs and prioritise and delegate tasks appropriately. Dental nursing apprentices learn about the equipment they need to prepare for the planned treatments, and those who have been on the programme for a few months can pre-empt what the dentist will need.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices gain confidence in their job roles and recognise how their apprenticeship has helped them to improve their professional behaviours and skills. Apprentices on the professional coaching course have improved their coaching techniques and successfully coached a refugee into employment. Monitoring visit: Exalt Training Limited, 19–20 August 2021 Most apprentices know how well they are able to know and remember new knowledge. They understand how they will be assessed at the end of their programme. They understand how the work that they are doing contributes to their final assessment and what they need to do to achieve higher grades.

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Reasonable progress

The majority of apprentices’ work is of a high standard. Skills coaches provide helpful feedback and correct apprentices’ English on written assessments. As a result, apprentices improve their grammar and punctuation. In business and leadership, employers report that apprentices’ written reports have improved.

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Reasonable progress

Employers, particularly in the dental nursing and adult care sectors, do not consistently attend apprentices’ reviews and are not aware of apprentices’ support needs. Apprentices on these programmes too often do not receive teaching support for English and mathematics early in their apprenticeship. Consequently, these apprentices are struggling and have made little or no progress in developing their mathematical skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place appropriate safeguarding policies and processes, including robust procedures around safely recruiting staff. Designated safeguarding leads are knowledgeable and qualified. They identify, record and monitor safeguarding concerns effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe. They have a good understanding of the health and safety relevant to their work. For example, dental nursing apprentices understand the dangers associated with using equipment such as autoclaves and amalgamators.

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Reasonable progress

At the start of each lesson, coaches provide information on topics such as domestic violence and financial fraud. They remind apprentices of where to get help and support, from within and outside the organisation. Consequently, apprentices know whom to contact if they have any concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices demonstrate an in-depth understanding of how British values and the ‘Prevent’ duty apply to them. Apprentices explain well how mutual respect improves communication. However, a small number of apprentices do not recognise the relevance of these topics to their lives. Monitoring visit: Exalt Training Limited, 19–20 August 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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