Pro-Active Safety Limited

Pro-Active Safety Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Glenise Burrell, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Unit 22 Park View Road West Hartlepool TS25 1PE Monitoring visit: Pro-Active Safety Limited, 13 and 14 April 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

Pro-Active Safety Limited provides apprenticeship and traineeship programmes in the construction industry under its training arm, Pro-Active Training. There are currently 139 apprentices working towards standards-based apprenticeships at level 2 in bricklaying, groundwork, plastering and joinery. In addition, 36 learners are enrolled on traineeships that provide an entry into construction; most of these learners are aged 16 to 18.

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Insufficient progress

The board of directors does not provide sufficient challenge to the senior leadership team in relation to the safeguarding of apprentices, leaders’ responsibilities under the ‘Prevent’ duty, or how successfully apprentices progress towards their end-point assessment. Leaders and managers do not monitor effectively enough the progress of apprentices. They do not have in place a process that would enable them to intervene and provide support when apprentices fall behind.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and staff do not ensure that apprentices benefit from effective careers advice and guidance. As a result, apprentices are not sufficiently aware of the opportunities available to them within or outside the industry or career path that they have chosen.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have recruited staff from the construction industry with strong knowledge and relevant backgrounds. However, too few staff are qualified above the level at which they are teaching. Although leaders and managers have plans in place to support new staff to improve their pedagogical and technical skills, they have been too slow to implement them. Monitoring visit: Pro-Active Safety Limited, 13 and 14 April 2022 Leaders and managers do not ensure that apprentices benefit from the use of good- quality resources. In plastering, there are insufficient resources available to enable apprentices to develop their practical skills effectively and in a logical order.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have not ensured that the programme meets the requirements of successful apprenticeship provision. They have not made employers fully aware of the expectations of good-quality apprenticeship provision, including the need for apprentices to maintain a high level of attendance at their training sessions.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers are committed to providing education and training for the most disadvantaged members of their local communities. They work well with local referral agencies including Jobcentre Plus and the Department for Work and Pensions to access the most disadvantaged people in their communities.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers have not planned or sequenced the curriculum well enough to provide apprentices with training that enables them to improve their practical skills incrementally over time. Apprentices join the programme throughout the year but when they join, they begin covering whatever topics are being taught at the time, with no account taken of their starting points. Early in their programme, apprentices often study complex topics for which they are not prepared as they do not have the prior knowledge needed.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors do not accurately measure the progress that apprentices are making. This means that they and apprentices’ employers are not sufficiently aware of apprentices’ attainment to date or of any gaps in apprentices’ knowledge and skills that need to be filled in order to prepare apprentices for their end-point assessment.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and staff do not ensure that apprentices who require a functional skills mathematics qualification commence their training towards this qualification quickly enough. This means that these apprentices are unable to make the same progress towards completing their apprenticeship as their peers.

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Insufficient progress

The attendance of too many apprentices in the training centre is poor. Leaders and managers do not sufficiently reinforce to employers the need for apprentices to attend more regularly. Too many apprentices stay away from their training following requests from their employer to cover for staff shortages or work commitments.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors demonstrate good technical knowledge which they apply well to develop apprentices’ understanding of how to complete complex tasks, particularly in brickwork and plastering. As a result, apprentices gain a better understanding of the more complex and technically demanding aspects of their vocational training. Monitoring visit: Pro-Active Safety Limited, 13 and 14 April 2022

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Insufficient progress

Staff do not develop learners’ English and mathematics skills well enough on the traineeship programme. Although all learners complete an initial assessment when they start the course, tutors do not use the results of this assessment to plan meaningful learning. Some learners who have already attained GCSE at grade 4 or above are still attending sessions preparing learners to achieve a GCSE qualification. Other learners struggle to access the curriculum as they do not have many of the skills needed to learn the topics being studied, including basic reading skills.

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Insufficient progress

Too many learners do not carry out a work placement as part of their traineeship. Learners identify work placements that they wish to carry out but are not made aware of whether or when there will be a suitable opportunity.

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Insufficient progress

Staff do not promote a culture of high attendance and good behaviour. Too many learners do not attend lessons or leave without explanation. In too many instances, tutors do not challenge inappropriate behaviour in or outside of lessons.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors provide learners with useful feedback that helps them to improve their work. When learners use tools incorrectly, such as pointing tools and gauge lathes, staff rectify this quickly so that learners improve their practice to meet industry requirements.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors take time to explain tools, equipment and terminology to their learners, and they are patient when learners do not initially grasp key concepts such as using pointing tools and string lines appropriately. Learners enjoy the relaxed but purposeful learning environment in the centre. They develop their basic trade terminology and vocabulary well. Teachers reinforce terminology regularly so that learners recognise the tools they are using and their purpose.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices and learners feel safe and know how to report any concerns. The training that they receive increases their knowledge of the risks to their safety, including sexual abuse and local risks such as knife crime and gang culture. Apprentices and learners appreciate the support available to them, such as mental health and housing support.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have suitable safe recruitment processes in place. They ensure that they implement appropriate checks prior to staff starting work in the organisation. Monitoring visit: Pro-Active Safety Limited, 13 and 14 April 2022 Leaders and managers have appropriate policies and procedures in place to keep staff, apprentices and learners safe. However, the ‘Prevent’ duty action plan is very early in its development.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders do not receive regular updates about how managers have responded to safeguarding incidents. They do not ensure that designated staff keep an accurate record of how concerns are dealt with. Although apprentices and learners receive appropriate support, there is a risk that this might not always be the case. Monitoring visit: Pro-Active Safety Limited, 13 and 14 April 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

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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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