Mary P's Ltd

Name of lead inspector: Christine Lacey, Ofsted Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Ashchurch Parkway Tewkesbury GL20 8TU Monitoring visit: Mary P’s limited, 27 and 28 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

Mary P’s Ltd is an independent learning provider and pre-primary school educator based in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. The training arm of Mary P’s Ltd was established in 2016, initially to provide training support to other apprenticeship providers. It gained a contract to provide apprenticeships in its own right in November 2020. At the time of the visit, Mary P’s Limited had seven apprentices following standards-based apprenticeships. Four apprentices followed the level 3 early years educator apprenticeship and three apprentices the level 2 early years practitioner apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear intent and strategy for developing their own direct apprenticeship provision, building on their previous experience in offering training through another provider. They have identified a skills shortage within the early years sector. They are ambitious for their apprentices to become highly skilled practitioners in their own nurseries and in the wider early years sector.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have implemented an appropriate curriculum that meets the principles and requirements of apprenticeships. They ensure that apprentices receive their entitlement to off-the-job training and have developed a highly effective learning environment within their own nurseries. This enables apprentices to become confident and skilful early years practitioners.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors and trainers are highly qualified in the early years sector and hold appropriate assessing qualifications. The provider uses their own expert practitioners effectively, to enhance apprentices’ training. Staff are knowledgeable and apprentices benefit from and enjoy both working with and observing these staff in the nursery.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed suitable quality assurance procedures to enable them to have Monitoring visit: Mary P’s limited, 27 and 28 April 2022 oversight of the quality of training and assessment. Trainers and assessors are observed at least monthly while undertaking tasks such as delivering training, carrying out observations and other assessment activities. Assessors get regular feedback on their practice and know how to improve. Leaders know the strengths and areas for improvement in their apprenticeship provision well. They are in the early stages of developing appropriate external oversight and challenge through an independent adviser.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and assessors regularly assess and monitor apprentices’ progress through weekly monitoring meetings and individual reviews. They know their apprentices well and quickly identify those who are at risk of falling behind. If needed, they put in place appropriate plans to ensure the apprentices catch up.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed an appropriate and effectively sequenced curriculum. As a result, apprentices quickly gain the key new skills, knowledge and behaviours that they need to make an effective contribution in their workplace. For example, apprentices learn about safeguarding and child development at the start of their training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have an effective system in place to assess apprentices’ starting points. Apprentices complete a formal interview and an assessment of their occupational skills before starting the apprenticeship. Leaders use this information well to place apprentices on the correct apprenticeship and to select appropriate units for them to study.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices swiftly develop effective occupational skills as a result of the training they receive both on- and off-the-job. At work, apprentices observe senior practitioners demonstrating specific skills, which they learn and replicate. For example, apprentices observe experienced practitioners while children are being picked up from and dropped off at the nursery.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors provide apprentices with clear and effective oral and written feedback on their work. They challenge apprentices effectively when improvements are needed. Apprentices value the feedback they receive and use it constructively to improve their work.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices improve their English language skills over time. They learn to talk effectively to colleagues, parents and carers of the children in their care. They improve their written English, in particular through writing daily emails concerning the progress of children for whom they are responsible. As a result, apprentices’ social skills, confidence, communication and digital skills grow. However, apprentices do not extend their mathematical skills enough.

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Reasonable progress

Monitoring visit: Mary P’s limited, 27 and 28 April 2022 The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and their deputies are appropriately qualified for their roles. All training staff are qualified to the same level as the DSLs. All staff complete regular safeguarding training. Appropriate safeguarding policies, procedures and risk assessments are in place and regularly updated, including one for the ‘Prevent’ duty.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders follow an appropriate approach to recruiting staff. They carry out thorough checks to ensure staff are suitable to work with apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices learn the nursery’s safeguarding policies and procedures at the start of their apprenticeship. They deepen their knowledge subsequently through further safeguarding training. As a result, apprentices have a strong understanding of safeguarding, including the risks associated with radicalisation. They are very clear on the role they play in keeping themselves and the children in their care safe. Monitoring visit: Mary P’s limited, 27 and 28 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

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

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