Wiltshire College and University Centre

Wiltshire College and University Centre Reinspection monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Tracey Zimmerman, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: General further education college

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Address:

Cocklebury Road Chippenham Wiltshire SN15 3QD Monitoring visit: Wiltshire College and University Centre, 3 and 4 November 2021

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Context and focus of visit

This is a reinspection monitoring visit to Wiltshire College and University Centre, following publication of the monitoring visit report published on 16 September 2021 which found the provider to have made insufficient progress on one theme.

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Context and focus of visit

The original visit followed concerns that had been reported to Ofsted and that were being investigated by another agency. The purpose of the visit was to assess whether the safeguarding arrangements at the college are effective. Inspectors’ judgements were informed by actions taken by the provider’s leaders and managers in response to the concerns raised previously.

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Context and focus of visit

Wiltshire College and University Centre is a general further education college with campuses in Trowbridge, Chippenham, Salisbury and Lackham. The college has reduced the number of subcontractors from 11 at the previous visit to five currently. Senior leaders made a strategic decision to no longer subcontract any of their 16-18 year old provision.

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Significant progress

The governing body and senior leaders swiftly devised an action plan to remedy all the issues identified at the previous monitoring visit. Governors and leaders now meet monthly to ensure that remedial actions are completed quickly, and changes are made to the plan to improve the quality of the safeguarding support they offer students. They have made significant progress in resolving all the issues identified, not only to improve safeguarding practice with their subcontractors but to extend this new practice across the wider college community.

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Significant progress

Governors and senior leaders now have a thorough oversight of safeguarding. Since the previous monitoring visit, they have increased their expectations of the subcontractors’ arrangements for safeguarding. Both governors and senior leaders are appropriately curious about safeguarding cases. They highlight key themes and the learning from these to improve the services for students. This rigorous oversight has helped to establish a pro-active safeguarding culture to identify, support and help potentially vulnerable students.

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Significant progress

Senior leaders have strengthened the due diligence process for all subcontractors this year. This ensures that subcontractors’ staff demonstrate how safeguarding in their organisations is tailored appropriately for their students. The college’s designated safeguarding lead (DSL) now has oversight of every due diligence pack before contracts are granted. Although the due diligence process has been revised Monitoring visit: Wiltshire College and University Centre, 3 and 4 November 2021 and much improved, leaders have not yet used the information from this to inform future discussions and areas for further exploration or improvement.

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Significant progress

College leaders and managers work effectively with external stakeholders to help develop their policies and processes. Leaders respond positively to requests to support local initiatives, such as concerns about radicalisation and extremism in the community. In discussion with subcontractors, college leaders and managers share their increased knowledge of safeguarding issues affecting adult students.

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Significant progress

Subcontractors work closely with college staff, sharing aspects of good practice with each other. Subcontractors’ DSLs welcome the support received from the college staff. Resources are shared openly, including safeguarding posters highlighting safeguarding ‘hot topics’. The college’s safeguarding staff have monthly meetings with subcontractors’ staff to ensure that safeguarding practice is discussed, and any necessary changes are approved. Students at subcontractors now receive surveys directly from the college that check their understanding of safeguarding. Staff discuss the results of these surveys during safeguarding meetings.

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Significant progress

Subcontractors’ staff benefit from well-run and informative safeguarding partnership training days. These are appreciated and well received. The most recent meeting was used to ensure that subcontractors’ staff understood new Keeping Children Safe in Education expectations and how to use the new college system to effectively report and record safeguarding concerns.

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Significant progress

Students demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding. All students who spoke with inspectors knew where to go to for help and support. Subcontractors’ staff ensure that personal safety is frequently reinforced throughout the curriculum and they check frequently on students’ wellbeing. For example, students know how to protect their online profiles and how best to support their children to stay safe while using the internet. Students explained that their understanding of the ‘Prevent’ duty has improved significantly since being at college, and they could explain how they would identify those at risk of radicalisation. Monitoring visit: Wiltshire College and University Centre, 3 and 4 November 2021 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for students of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family

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Significant progress

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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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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

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