Dexters London Limited

Dexters London Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Joanna Walters, Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Address: 3 Park Road Teddington TW11 0AP Monitoring visit: Dexters London Limited, 12 – 13 April 2022

p.1

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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Dexters London Limited (Dexters) is an independent estate agency employer provider. Dexters provides sales, lettings, property management and financial services. Dexters has approximately 100 offices across Greater London. Dexters began teaching apprenticeships in July 2020. Most of the training takes place in the apprentices’ workplace.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

All apprentices complete standards-based apprenticeship programmes. At the time of the monitoring visit there were 45 apprentices on the level 3 customer service practioner apprenticeship. There were 39 apprentices on the level 2 junior estate agent apprenticeship and 5 apprentices completing the level 3 business administrator apprenticeship. All apprentices are over the age of 18.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Dexters subcontracts the English and mathematics training of the apprenticeship programmes to Runway Training. Most English and mathematics training is taught online.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for choosing the qualifications they have. The apprenticeship standards closely align with the nature of work that employees carry out in the estate agency business. As a result, apprentices who complete the programme achieve well and make progress within their chosen careers.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that the requirements of the apprenticeship provision are met. They set clear expectations at the start of the programme for all involved. Each apprentice has a commitment statement that outlines the training, expectations and commitments for line managers, apprentices and coaches. Apprentices receive their entitlement to attend training within their work hours. Monitoring visit: Dexters London Limited, 12 – 13 April 2022 Leaders do not have robust enough process in place to check on the quality of teaching, coaching, reviews or assessments, including in the subcontracted provision. As a result, they cannot fully assure themselves about the quality of provision and take the necessary actions to make further improvements.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that coaches have good expertise in property sales and lettings and property management, and are highly experienced at coaching apprentices. However, leaders do not provide sufficient opportunities for coaches to develop their teaching and assessing skills further. They have plans for coaches to take assessor qualifications to ensure they have the most up to date skills and knowledge to perform their role.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders have designed the apprenticeships appropriately so that apprentices attend workshops where they learn the key knowledge they need, and then receive one-to- one support from coaches. They suitably sequence the content of each apprenticeship so that apprentices incrementally build on the knowledge they gain. For example, junior estate agent apprentices first learn about managing viewings and gain the planning and organisational skills they need to get started in their roles. They then learn more-complex topics in later workshops, such as valuations and construction surveying.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Coaches make sure that apprentices have the right aptitude and interest for a career in estate agency. They accurately assess what apprentices know and can do at the start of their programme. Apprentices’ line managers set helpful personal development plans with apprentices. These outline the topics and content apprentices will cover throughout their programme during their learning in the workplace. However, the workplace targets do not align adequately to the topics that apprentices learn in their off-the-job training. Similarly, the targets coaches set apprentices during reviews too often do not give apprentices clear guidance on the specific knowledge, skills or behaviours they need to improve.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Coaches give clear explanations in reviews and workshops sessions. They use skilful questioning so they can check what apprentices can remember what they have learned from their training at work. They offer apprentices helpful coaching sessions that focus on the knowledge element of the apprenticeship prior to end-of- programme assessments. However, they do not give apprentices sufficient practice for their final assessment. As a result, apprentices are not clear about what they need to do to get a merit or distinction.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Coaches ensure that apprentices have opportunities to undertake additional courses in very specific areas, such as anti-money laundering. As a result, they learn knowledge that is essential for their specific roles. Monitoring visit: Dexters London Limited, 12 – 13 April 2022

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders create a positive and supportive environment for apprentices to learn and work. Coaches signpost apprentices to external support services to obtain help, should they need it. As a result, most apprentices benefit from support and guidance that help them to remain engaged with their learning.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders have processes and policies in place to safeguard apprentices. Designated safeguarding leads are suitably trained. However, additional safe recruitment measures are not yet in place so leaders can assure themselves that staff are suitable to work with their apprentices.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Apprentices have a secure understanding of safeguarding and the dangers of extremism and radicalisation. Coaches have safeguarding conversations with apprentices during reviews, in the context of their roles at Dexters. For example, apprentices know the safety protocol to use when a property visit becomes uncomfortable. As a result, they confidently know how to seek help if in a vulnerable situation with a client.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe. They know who to contact in their own office or in the coaching team if they have any worries or concerns. Monitoring visit: Dexters London Limited, 12 – 13 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 and child protection.

p.4

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 .

p.5

Reasonable progress

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Reasonable progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5