East Essex Vocational Training Limited

East Essex Vocational Training Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Jane Hughes, Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address: The Annex 80 Tottenham Road Dedham Avenue London N1 4BZ Monitoring visit: East Essex Vocational Training Limited, 28 and 29 June 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

East Essex Vocational Training Limited (EEVT), was sold to the Employment Education Training Group in February 2019. EEVT is a training provider based in East London. They gained a contract to offer apprenticeships in 2019. They enrolled their first apprentices in March 2021. At the time of the monitoring visit, EEVT had eight apprentices enrolled on the level 3 team leading standard, eight apprentices on the level 3 digital marketer standard, two apprentices on the level 3 business administrator standard and one apprentice on the level 2 customer services and level 2 recruitment resource standards. The vast majority of apprentices were over 19 years old.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have thought carefully about their curriculum offer. They have chosen apprenticeship standards that complement courses they offer through their parent company. Leaders have taken a cautious and sensible approach to recruitment. Leaders want to ensure their curriculum is right before they increase the numbers of apprentices on programmes. Leaders commit to supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access apprenticeship programmes.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and staff have positive partnerships with employers. Most employers share leaders’ vison to increase diversity within their workplace. The curriculum meets employers’ needs. Employers are well informed about their roles and responsibilities. They understand the requirements around apprentices’ entitlement to sufficient off- the-job training. Employers ensure apprentices complete relevant tasks at work that helps apprentices practise their new skills. However, not all employers attend progress reviews as often as they should. Monitoring visit: East Essex Vocational Training Limited, 28 and 29 June 2022 Leaders recruit the majority of apprentices appropriately. Apprentices are in suitable job roles that match well to their chosen apprenticeship standard. However, the first cohort of team leading apprentices did not go through a rigorous enough selection process. Leaders did not work closely enough with the employer to ensure

p.2

Reasonable progress

apprentices had the motivation to complete the programme. As a result, a small proportion of apprentices left the programme. Most of this cohort still on programme are behind with their work. Leaders have now put in place clear action plans with the employer and apprentices to get them back on track.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place an experienced team of staff to support the programme. Leaders ensure training mentors have good knowledge of their subject. The team includes dedicated teaching staff to support apprentices who need to complete qualifications in English and mathematics. Leaders work closely with staff to track apprentices’ progress. They complete effective performance management and quality assurance activities with the team.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders frequently collect apprentices’ views about their experience. However, they have not analysed the results of this information to make changes to the curriculum or the support available to apprentices.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Mentors teach apprentices new knowledge and skills effectively. For example, apprentices on the digital marketing standard have learned how to use analytics to track clients’ activity, and email open rates. They apply their skills successfully at work by writing blogs for company websites. Apprentices on the business administration standard gain confidence to present topics to each other in their online sessions.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Employers recognise the improved skills and behaviours apprentices have gained. For example, digital marketing apprentices now produce better marketing flyers. Business administration apprentices have improved the standard of their written and professional communication. Apprentices gain confidence to deal with external clients and other members of the team.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and mentors do not make good use of the information they have from the assessment of apprentices’ knowledge and skills at the start of their programme. They do not use this to put in place personalised programmes for apprentices, nor do they use this effectively to adapt the content of the taught curriculum. As a result, on a few occasions, particularly in team leading, apprentices with prior experience are taught topics they already know. Monitoring visit: East Essex Vocational Training Limited, 28 and 29 June 2022 Mentors use the results of apprentices’ external assessments effectively to identify gaps in apprentices’ knowledge. They put in place very helpful revision sessions to support apprentices to focus on their areas for improvement. Mentors provide constructive and useful feedback on the content of apprentices’ written work. However, mentors do not always pay sufficient attention to direct apprentices on

p.3

Reasonable progress

how to improve their punctuation and grammar.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Apprentices have access to high-quality learning resources. These include a range of presentations, self-assessment checks and video clips. Apprentices use these resources outside of their sessions effectively to consolidate their learning.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders have not ensured that all apprentices have sufficient understanding about what to expect in their final assessments.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders consider safeguarding as a high priority. They are very aware of their responsibilities to safeguard apprentices. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL), and deputy, have good knowledge about their roles and responsibilities. They ensure that safeguarding is re-enforced with staff so that staff know how to identify and respond to potential concerns. The DSL has considered a range of appropriate topics to cover with staff, for example, around online safety and anti-Semitism.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that staff working with apprentices are safe to do so. Staff complete relevant training in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Apprentices feel safe in training and at work. They appreciate the positive and supportive environments at work. They know whom to report any concerns to.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders have put together helpful guides for apprentices. These signpost apprentices to support services in areas such as drug abuse, counselling, and how to access local food banks. However, leaders recognise the need to develop the support and training for apprentices further in topics such as sexual harassment and healthy sexual relationships. Monitoring visit: East Essex Vocational Training Limited, 28 and 29 June 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

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