SB Skills Solutions Ltd

SB Skills Solutions Ltd Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Ruth Stammers, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

38 Gorsey Place Skelmersdale Lancashire WN8 9DB Monitoring visit: SB Skills Solutions Ltd, 3 and 4 February 2022

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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

SB Skills Solutions Ltd is an independent learning provider based in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. It specialises in training for the construction industry. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 68 apprentices in learning. Apprentices study across four different level 2 apprenticeship standards. These include 33 apprentices on the groundworker apprenticeship, 26 apprentices on the construction plant operative apprenticeship, five apprentices on the highways maintenance operative apprenticeship and four apprentices on the bricklayer apprenticeship. The provider does not subcontract any of its provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders offer apprenticeships in construction to tackle a national skills shortage of construction workers. They work closely with employers to include additional training such as dumper-truck driving for groundworker apprentices. Employers value the pipeline of trained apprentices into their businesses.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders monitor the progress that apprentices make on their apprenticeship effectively. Leaders put effective support in place for apprentices who fall behind to help them catch up. Most apprentices are on target to complete their apprenticeships on time.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that tutors have the appropriate experience and qualifications to teach their subjects. Where tutors require further specialist qualifications, such as plant operating licences, this training is provided to ensure that they have the necessary skills to teach their apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have recently appointed new staff and implemented new quality monitoring systems to improve the quality of training apprentices receive. This includes a new, Monitoring visit: SB Skills Solutions Ltd, 3 and 4 February 2022 more rigorous apprenticeship enrolment process that ensures that employers and apprentices are fully aware of their commitment to an apprenticeship programme.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have invested in high-quality resources to assist apprentices in their learning. For example, tutors make effective use of an industry-standard simulator to teach plant operative apprentices how to operate and carry out defect checks on a variety of machinery, such as diggers and excavators. This allows apprentices to familiarise themselves with the machinery’s controls and prepares them for their practical driver training.

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Reasonable progress

Governors receive a range of suitable information that gives them an appropriate understanding of the quality of training apprentices receive. They provide leaders with appropriate challenge and closely monitor their actions. This results in swift intervention where improvements are required.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours during their apprenticeship. They quickly make an effective contribution to their employers’ businesses. For example, plant operative apprentices learn how to operate construction machinery, such as excavators and dumpers. Apprentices successfully obtain their plant operating licences.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors adapt the curriculum to take account of what apprentices already know and can do at the start of the programme. Where appropriate, apprentices with prior experience in construction are fast tracked to gain their excavator licences early. This enables apprentices to work on a wider range of construction projects earlier in their programme.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors teach the curriculum in a carefully considered order. Plant operative apprentices incrementally develop their knowledge throughout their apprenticeship. They initially learn about health and safety and the fundamental basics of checking each machine for defects. They then learn how to use dumpers and rollers before learning how to use more complex machinery, such as telehandlers and excavators.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and tutors plan on- and off-the job training effectively. For example, on completion of dumper-truck training, employers make sure that apprentices are given the opportunity to practise these skills at work. This enables apprentices to refine their skills and become competent plant operators.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices improve their mathematical skills because of the training they receive on their apprenticeship. Groundworker apprentices learn how to calculate gradient levels Monitoring visit: SB Skills Solutions Ltd, 3 and 4 February 2022 for flagging and ratios for mixing cement. This helps them to work independently on practical tasks at work.

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Reasonable progress

The quality and effectiveness of the feedback apprentices receive are inconsistent between apprenticeships. Plant operative apprentices receive useful spoken and written feedback that helps them to improve their practical skills and written work. However, a few groundworker apprentices do not receive specific feedback that helps them to understand what they need to do to improve.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and staff place a high priority on keeping learners safe. All members of the safeguarding team are suitably qualified. Where necessary, leaders refer apprentices to external agencies so that they can access additional help in relation to issues such as bereavement, financial hardship, stress and anxiety.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices know how to keep themselves and others safe at work. They follow safety signs and wear the correct personal protective equipment.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are aware of how and to whom they should report concerns, both in the training centre and at work. Most apprentices can recall their training on topics such as online safety, knife crime and the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. However, a few groundworker apprentices cannot recall this training.

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Reasonable progress

During the monitoring visit, leaders rectified minor administrative errors in their staff recruitment processes. They now have a more robust process and procedure for safely recruiting new staff. Monitoring visit: SB Skills Solutions Ltd, 3 and 4 February 2022 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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