Training Aim Academy Limited

Training Aim Academy Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Saul Pope, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 24 and 25 November 2021

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

1, The Avenue Derby DE1 2DF Monitoring visit: Training Aim Academy Limited, 24 and 25 November 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

At the time of the visit, Training Aim Academy Limited (TAAL) had seven adult apprentices. They all followed standards-based apprenticeships, and they had recently started their courses. Apprentices followed either sports coach apprenticeships at level 4, or junior content producer apprenticeships at level 3. TAAL does not use subcontractors for any of its apprenticeship work.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that they enrol apprentices onto appropriate courses that match their future career plans. For example, apprentices who work at football academies plan to follow careers in football coaching, or in producing digital content for the football industry.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders provide detailed information to both apprentices and their employers as part of initial guidance. Leaders include the parents of young adult apprentices in this process. This ensures that they all have a thorough understanding of the rigours and requirements of an apprenticeship course before the apprentice joins the course.

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Reasonable progress

Early in their courses, apprentices complete thorough skills scans, which provide a clear picture of apprentices’ stronger and weaker areas of subject knowledge. Leaders ensure that both tutors and employers can contribute to skills scans. This means that they are more accurate and subjective.

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Reasonable progress

In the majority of cases, tutors are well qualified for their roles. For example, tutors that teach the sports coach apprenticeship hold full teaching qualifications. They also have subject-specific qualifications at degree level, and coaching qualifications. Managers with oversight of the junior content producer apprenticeship have subject- Monitoring visit: Training Aim Academy Limited, 24 and 25 November 2021 related qualifications at degree level. However, tutors that directly teach the course do not have such in-depth expertise.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have devised appropriate quality assurance procedures to give them oversight of the apprenticeship provision. Managers with responsibility for quality assurance are well qualified and experienced. They demonstrate a clear understanding of both quality assurance and quality improvement. They rightly recognise that they need to undertake a thorough assessment of the courses of tutors who very recently joined TAAL.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have not yet introduced a governance structure. They recognise the value of this oversight, and they are in the early stages of introducing this.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop new skills and knowledge as a result of their courses. Level 4 sports coach apprentices develop knowledge of different leadership styles, and how to vary their approach to coaching different types of player. Level 3 junior content producer apprentices deepen their knowledge of advertising techniques when they study this topic. A few apprentices recently completed their courses at level 3. They produced work that was of a high standard. For example, they developed final projects that impacted strongly on their workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from opportunities to develop their skills for employment. They improve their ability to present information to groups of people. Tutors provide specific additional support for those apprentices that need to develop their core mathematics and English skills. However, tutors do not always consider the mathematics and English knowledge that all apprentices need to develop as part of their main course, such as the ability to spell key terminology accurately.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and apprentices’ employers plan adequate time for off-the-job training. Apprentices rightly value this time, and the new skills and knowledge that they gain as a result. However, leaders do not plan the content of off-the-job training carefully enough, so that that it closely complements the activities that apprentices undertake at work.

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Reasonable progress

Junior content producer tutors plan lessons thoroughly. They break down the content of topics carefully. This includes opportunities to check that apprentices have understood these new topics. Tutors that teach sports coach apprentices do not plan their classes thoroughly enough. Tutors carry out frequent reviews with apprentices, although in a few cases they do not complete these in enough detail. Monitoring visit: Training Aim Academy Limited, 24 and 25 November 2021 Apprentices have adequate knowledge of their final assessments. They rightly feel that they get useful careers advice about their options at the end of their course.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed an appropriate culture of safeguarding. They ensure that suitable measures for safer recruitment are in place, as well as relevant policies and procedures. Staff at all levels complete pertinent safeguarding-related qualifications.

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Reasonable progress

Those with specific responsibility for safeguarding have a thorough understanding of the risks that face young adults. They ensure that apprentices cover these as part of their courses. For example, apprentices develop knowledge of how extremists radicalise young people, and the potential threat of online grooming when they use social media at work.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices also understand the importance of British values, such as why they should tolerate and respect the views of others. They are aware of how to safely undertake practical activities on their courses. They rightly feel safe when they study, and know whom to contact if they have safeguarding-related concerns. Monitoring visit: Training Aim Academy Limited, 24 and 25 November 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

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 .

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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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