Training Skills UK Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Adult learning programmes Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

Training Skills UK Ltd (TSUK) started its newly funded adult learning provision in November 2017. Since September 2021, TSUK has been funded by the Greater London Authority to teach adult education. TSUK provides level 2 courses in electrical installations (building and structures) and in plumbing studies and electrical installations (building and structures), and level 3 in gas engineering. At the time of the inspection, there were 38 learners. Of these, 18 were studying gas engineering, 14 were studying electrical installations and six were studying plumbing studies. 25 and 26 April 2022

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners really enjoy their courses because they learn new knowledge and skills that help them achieve the qualifications they study. As a result, they take positive steps in pursuing their career goals. Learners whom inspectors spoke with said that they would highly recommend the training to their friends.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners benefit from a calm and purposeful learning environment. Learners and staff from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds treat each other with mutual respect. Learners have positive attitudes to their training, and are committed and highly motivated to study.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners attend training centres, where staff are friendly and welcoming. They receive good support throughout their training from tutors who go out of their way to help them succeed. For example, tutors meet with learners outside lessons when they need additional help to understand what they have been taught.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners, many of whom have been out of education for some time, grow in confidence as they progress through their training. This is because industry- experienced tutors ensure that learners develop their knowledge and skills securely. As a result, learners make good progress in their studies.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners feel safe. They know how to keep themselves safe and if they have any concerns, they know to whom to report these.

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better?

Leaders and managers have chosen the building services courses to meet the needs of learners and the skills gaps within building services industries. The training supports learners in their first steps into the industries and provides progression routes into new roles and further training.

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better?

Leaders and managers ensure that the curriculum is taught in a logical order, so that learners develop their knowledge and skills incrementally. For example, electrical installations learners learn health and safety and the principles of electrical science before completing more complex tasks, such as converting radial to ring circuits.

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better?

Leaders and managers ensure that learners can access the curriculum in ways that suit learners’ personal circumstances. For example, while they are in full-time employment, plumbing learners attend their classes at weekends.

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better?

Managers with good industry and assessor expertise oversee the training programmes. They work closely with tutors to ensure that learners’ work is of a high standard. For example, electrical installation learners produce good-quality domestic lightning and power circuits. 25 and 26 April 2022 Tutors use effective strategies that help learners remember what they have been taught. For example, tutors skilfully question gas engineering learners to recall gas regulations and revisit these in subsequent lessons. They clarify effectively any misconceptions learners have. As a result, learners are able to apply the regulations on ventilation when visiting customers’ houses to service gas appliances.

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better?

Staff provide effective advice and guidance to learners about their next steps in education and employment. As a result, learners understand what they need to do to succeed in their chosen career. A high proportion of those who complete their course gain employment or better paid roles with more responsibility.

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better?

Senior leaders and managers do not use all of the information they have to thoroughly evaluate the provision. For example, they do not bring together information from observations of teaching or from learners to inform their view of the quality of education that learners experience. As a result, they broadly understand most of the strengths and weaknesses of the provision, but not all.

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better?

Senior leaders ensure that there are governance arrangements in place to provide scrutiny and oversight of the provision. However, senior leaders do not have or review a sufficient range of performance information about the experiences of their apprentices. As a result, they do not sufficiently focus on the quality of education the learners receive in order to continue to make improvements.

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better?

Leaders and managers do not ensure that learners learn enough about the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. In addition, learners are not taught well enough about British values. As a result, they do not make links between these topics and their personal and working lives.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers create a safe environment for learners. Leaders and managers have put in place a suitable safeguarding policy, ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment and action plan to underpin safeguarding practice. To date, there have been no safeguarding incidents, so these policies remain untested.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment and selection procedures that ensure that new staff are suitable for their role. A suitably qualified designated safeguarding lead is in place, and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

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Safeguarding

Learners develop a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe in their trade area. They work safely in lessons and practical sessions, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment when completing practical tasks. 25 and 26 April 2022

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Senior leaders and managers should develop and implement effective quality assurance plans based on a rigorous evaluation of the quality of adult learning provision.  Senior leaders should ensure that they receive and review a good range of performance information, so that they can provide frequent scrutiny of the provision to bring about continued improvements.  Leaders and managers should ensure that learners are taught effectively about British values and the dangers of extremism and radicalisation. 25 and 26 April 2022

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 25 and 26 April 2022

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the CEO, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Jon Bowman, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Errol Ince Ofsted Inspector David Baber Ofsted Inspector 25 and 26 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.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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

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