Vocation Training

Vocation Training Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Stuart Collett, Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

The Savoy Centre Northfield Road Netherton Dudley West Midlands DY2 9ES Monitoring visit: Vocation Training, 5 and 6 May 2022

p.1

Context and focus of visit

From March 2019, Ofsted undertook to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of adult learning provision which began to be funded from August 2017 or after by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. 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

Vocation Training is an independent learning provider based in Netherton in the West Midlands specialising in employability programmes in construction. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were eight learners following a sector-based work academy programme funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders demonstrate a clear rationale for the adult learning programme they have chosen to offer. They have selected a curriculum which closely aligns with regional employment priorities and those of the combined authority. The programme has been effectively designed to help adults into careers in the construction sector through the delivery of a sector-based work academy programme focused on temporary traffic management.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed effective relationships with external agencies, including Jobcentre Plus, to help identify and attract learners who are least likely to engage in education and training. All learners are unemployed when starting their learning, and a significant minority of learners in each cohort are ex-offenders.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that they have appropriate staff in place to deliver the curriculum. In addition, they use external teaching staff to deliver specialist knowledge and non-regulated qualifications in traffic management. This ensures that learners have the skills and knowledge they need to enter their chosen careers upon completion.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders closely monitor the destinations of learners upon completion of their programmes and work proactively in supporting learners to ensure that they remain in employment. As a result, a significant majority of learners achieve sustained employment at the end of their course. Monitoring visit: Vocation Training, 5 and 6 May 2022 Leaders regularly informally review the quality of education that they provide and understand clearly the areas for further improvement. However, they do not yet have structured arrangements in place to quality assure the curriculum. As a result, the current arrangements would not provide leaders with sufficient oversight, should the provider grow beyond current learner numbers.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have arrangements in place for appropriate external scrutiny to hold them to account, however they are not yet fully developed. Consequently, this scrutiny does not always focus sharply enough on challenging leaders on the quality of education they provide.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed a four-week training programme which equips learners with the skills and knowledge required to gain and sustain employment as registered traffic management operatives within the temporary traffic management industry. As a result, the large majority of learners move into employment with large regional employers, while others gain employment with agencies which provide staff to the sector.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders have significant experience of the learner groups they work with. They pay close attention to ensuring the classroom is a positive learning environment for all through rigorous pre-enrolment processes designed to ensure that learners are fully aware of the expectations of their behaviour. Consequently, learners start to develop appropriate behaviours for the workplace from early on in their programmes. For example, tutors reinforce well the key qualities required by employers, such as punctuality, reliability, and the importance of raising queries with site supervisors if unsure about what they need to do.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors assess learners’ starting points to ensure that they are suitable for the programme and to identify any additional support needs. For example, learners with dyslexia are provided with a reader when carrying out their assessments. Tutors provide effective support to their learners from the beginning of their programmes.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have ensured that learners develop a range of useful skills, such as a basic understanding of health and safety, hazard identification, how to make a positive first impression during interview, and creating a professional curriculum vitae (CV).

p.3

Reasonable progress

Learners develop their mathematics skills well; they use look-up tables, make simple calculations, and use measurements to work out where and how many cones need to be placed over a given distance. Learners develop their digital skills through the Monitoring visit: Vocation Training, 5 and 6 May 2022 creation of CVs, and they learn how to use job sites to search for employment. However, tutors do not focus well enough on the development of learners’ English skills.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors provide effective information and advice to help learners plan and achieve their next steps. Learners benefit from individual discussions to help plan for their career aspirations, and from work trials where they are given the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to potential employers and familiarise themselves with the working environment.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders have appointed a suitably qualified member of staff to act as their designated safeguarding lead (DSL) who regularly updates their training to ensure they remain up to date with current legislation. Due to the nature of the provision, the DSL has close links with external agencies, who provide useful updates on local safeguarding-related topics.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Tutors provide learners with appropriate information at induction to help keep themselves safe, covering topics such as the risks of radicalisation and extremism, equality and diversity, and life in modern Britain. However, not all learners could recall the detail of this information or how they could apply it in their everyday lives.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Learners study the basics of health and safety, specific to their intended job roles as part of their course, which serves well as a foundation for further training when entering employment.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Learners understand the support available to them and know where to go if they need help. Monitoring visit: Vocation Training, 5 and 6 May 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