Blyth Harbour Commissioners

Blyth Harbour Commissioners Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Hayley Lomas, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Centre Q Port Training Centre Q Blyth Northumberland NE24 3PA Monitoring visit: Blyth Harbour Commissioners, 13 and 20 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

Blyth Harbour Commissioners trades as Port Training Services. At the time of the monitoring visit, it had 50 apprentices working towards level 2 port operative standards-based apprenticeships. Port Training Services provides apprenticeships with employers working in five ports across England.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not ensure the suitability of the apprentices who they recruit to the apprenticeship programme. They do not check to ensure that potential apprentices can develop substantial knowledge, skills and behaviours as part of the programme. Too many apprentices have worked in the port industry for a substantial period of time and already have the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to be successful in their job roles.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not have a thorough enough oversight of the quality of training. Managers rely too much on employers to provide training and do not assure themselves of the quality and accuracy of the teaching that is provided.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not have sufficient awareness of the progress that apprentices make in improving their English and mathematics skills. They do not effectively oversee the work of the subcontractor that provides courses in functional English and mathematics. Leaders and managers do not ensure that apprentices are able to achieve their functional skills qualifications at the required level.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have a clear and ambitious plan to use their knowledge and understanding of port operations to develop an apprenticeship programme that supports the need for a skilled port operative workforce. Monitoring visit: Blyth Harbour Commissioners, 13 and 20 April 2022 Managers and assessors use their extensive industrial knowledge well to contribute to developing the apprenticeship standards and amending the competency requirements for the NVQ programmes. Employers are positive about the knowledge and expertise of the training team.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have established a well-resourced training centre, which is situated at the port of Blyth. Apprentices who attend the training centre are supported well.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not ensure that all apprentices benefit from high-quality training that is appropriate to their prior experience and starting points. Too many experienced port operatives have been enrolled on the level 2 port operative apprenticeship, which does not enable them to develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours. However, recently recruited apprentices are new entrants to the industry and suitable candidates for the programme.

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Insufficient progress

Managers and assessors do not establish apprentices’ starting points effectively. All apprentices follow the same programme of study and training activities regardless of their prior experience, qualifications and any additional support needs that they have. Commitment statements are standard agreements which meet the basic requirements for funding but do not set out the knowledge, skills and behaviours that apprentices will develop or how they will be taught, supported and assessed to ensure that they achieve these.

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Insufficient progress

Managers have been too slow to put the necessary arrangements in place to provide training and support for apprentices who need to improve their knowledge and skills in English and mathematics. All apprentices complete an English and mathematics initial assessment when they join the apprenticeship programme. Managers use a subcontractor to provide functional skills training and support for apprentices who need this at one port. However, no arrangements are in place to provide training or support for apprentices who need to achieve English and mathematics functional skills qualifications at any other ports, and assessors only rarely continue to develop these skills with apprentices who have previously gained these qualifications.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have appointed a suitable designated safeguarding lead (DSL) to ensure that apprentices are safe during their apprenticeship. The DSL has received some appropriate training and has an appropriate understanding of what to do should a concern Monitoring visit: Blyth Harbour Commissioners, 13 and 20 April 2022 arise. The reporting procedures for concerns remains untested as no safeguarding concerns have been reported.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed appropriate safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty policies and procedures. However, leaders and managers do not seek guidance from appropriate agencies to keep up to date on risks and legislation related to these topics.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that apprentices understand the significant health and safety risks associated with the areas of the ports where they work. Assessors teach apprentices to understand a wide range of issues, including operating machinery at the ports where they work and how to keep themselves and others safe. Apprentices are aware of the potential dangers, and they feel safe and supported in their job roles. Monitoring visit: Blyth Harbour Commissioners, 13 and 20 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

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Reasonable progress

children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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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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