North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association Limited

North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Victor Reid, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Hanley Technical Institute 151-153 Marsh Street North Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5HR Monitoring visit: North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association Limited, 27 and 28 July 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

The association was founded in 1968 with a focus on providing local employers with access to a range of engineering-focused training support services. The organisation is led by a chief executive who in turn reports to a group of trustees drawn from engineering employers from across the locality.

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Context and focus of visit

In February 2021, its first cohort of directly funded apprentices began training. In the same month, the association was awarded a contract to deliver engineering- related employability training to adult learners who have significant barriers to employment and who reside in and around the Stoke-on-Trent conurbation, with training commencing shortly thereafter.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the visit, 58 apprentices were in learning, all on level 2 standards- based programmes, of which the majority were in lean manufacturing and the remaining working towards a manufacturing operative qualification. Apprentices receive their training through a blended approach of online webinars and practical skills-based training given in the workplace. In relation to the adult learning provision, 12 learners had just completed their training. Adult learners attend an intensive five-week, full-time programme working towards an engineering qualification and an employability award. All adult training is provided at the association’s engineering academy located in Stoke-on-Trent. To date, 98 adult learners have completed their studies.

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Context and focus of visit

The impact of COVID-19 has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders, with the active support of trustees, have established a clear rationale for the introduction of engineering-related apprenticeships and adult learning Monitoring visit: North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association Limited, 27 and 28 July 2022 programmes. They ensure the curriculum is well aligned in extending apprentices’ technical knowledge and vocational skills and supporting adult learners to develop employability skills that assist them into sustainable job outcomes.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders successfully use their previous experience as a training subcontractor to inform their understanding of the requirements associated with managing their direct-delivery contract. They have been appropriately cautious in their expansion plans by working only in industry sectors where they have the relevant experience, expertise and technical capacity.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers work effectively with employers and local partners, such as Jobcentre Plus to ensure that the training they offer meets the needs of employers, apprentices and unemployed learners. They rightly focus on developing programmes to reduce skills shortages, and in furthering the career aims and aspirations of those seeking to work in the local engineering and manufacturing sectors.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices and adults are recruited with integrity and that they receive an effective induction to their studies. As a result, very few leave early. Leaders and managers work well with employers to ensure that apprentices receive their full entitlement to off-the-job training. Adult learners attend planned learning regularly.

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Reasonable progress

Academy tutors and training officers are suitably qualified and have extensive and up-to-date relevant knowledge in the vocational areas in which they teach. Leaders ensure staff benefit from access to targeted continuous professional development that extends their confidence and skills in delivering impactful learning to apprentices and adult learners.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed and implemented appropriate quality assurance processes. They successfully use these arrangements to identify and share best practice to improve the quality of provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders’ and managers’ use of data does not always enable them to have a precise enough understanding of the progress that apprentices and adult learners are making from their individual starting points.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from a well-planned and carefully crafted induction process. This provides a positive start that helps them to understand the expectations and demands of their programmes. Training staff and managers have high expectations of apprentices and ensure that they routinely benefit from a positive learning experience. Monitoring visit: North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association Limited, 27 and 28 July 2022 Training officers are skilled at helping apprentices with any personal and emotional needs. They carefully tailor support to match apprentices’ requirements, helping them to gain confidence when undertaking practical tasks and completing written assignments. Apprentices rapidly improve their confidence and workplace skills due to the good support they receive. Consequently, most apprentices quickly develop the specialist skills and knowledge and the personal attributes that they need to be

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Reasonable progress

successful in their jobs. They routinely produce work that meets their employers’ exacting technical requirements.

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Reasonable progress

Employers contribute significantly to the planning and delivery of provision. They participate fully in reviews of apprentices’ progress and have a good level of insight and understanding of what their apprentices can do and what development support is needed to enable them to develop their skills further. Many apprentices undertake additional training, such as in health and safety, that enhances their employability and effectiveness in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers and assessors are experienced and have good current subject knowledge across a range of industry-specific, engineering-related disciplines, such as assembly and fabrication, welding, and computer-aided design. They successfully use this industry insight to ensure apprentices confidently develop and hone their vocational and technical skills so that their engineering knowledge and practice is both current and up to-date.

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Reasonable progress

While most apprentices benefit from clear, constructive, and developmental oral feedback on their technical skills and knowledge, the written feedback provided by training officers on their assessments and progress to date is not always precise enough, nor provides sufficient challenge, particularly for the most able to excel.

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Reasonable progress

Adult learners benefit from a well-planned programme which support them to develop new skills and knowledge in engineering and that extends their confidence and employability skills. As a result, most learners complete their courses, with a high proportion moving into employment or progressing on to higher levels of study.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and training staff ensure that learning programmes are closely aligned to the needs and demands of the locality. They make effective use of labour market information and through partnership arrangements with the local job centres and employers to ensure that planned learning activities provide learners with a carefully sequenced set of learning experiences that develop their vocational practice and enhance their resilience and self-confidence. Monitoring visit: North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association Limited, 27 and 28 July 2022 Academy tutors make good use of their industry experience to ensure that learning is well organised. Learners confidently develop their knowledge about engineering operations and develop their practical skills in vocational subjects such as, welding, assembly, and fabrication. In addition, trainers support learners well to improve their English and mathematics skills.

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Reasonable progress

Learners benefit from particularly effective one-to-one coaching and regular support provided by their tutors. As a result, they quickly improve their engineering skills, for example, developing accuracy and precision in their welding techniques. Learners’ attendance at planned lessons is routinely high. They arrive on time and are ready to learn, demonstrating high standards of behaviour.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors accurately assess learners’ practical skills through rigorous questioning and checking of knowledge, and through assessment of their vocational practice. Where necessary, they revisit prior learning to ensure any identified gaps in learners’ knowledge and/or understanding are swiftly addressed.

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Reasonable progress

All learners benefit from precise oral feedback that they receive during planned learning activities. However, written feedback provided by tutors is too narrowly focused on assessment requirements and does not always set out what learners do well or what they could do better.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices and adult learners feel safe. Leaders and managers have developed good collaborative relationships with employers to ensure workplace settings meet relevant health and safety requirements.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices and adult learners receive clear instruction and guidance regarding the importance of following safe work practices, such as the use of personal protective equipment, and closely adhering to method statements when using tools and equipment.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices and adult learners are aware of how to be safe online and when using social media. Younger apprentices have an appropriate understanding of matters such as consent and personal boundaries. Adult apprentices receive clear advice and guidance regarding mental health and resilience. Apprentices and adult learners receive helpful guidance and support about safeguarding and know where they can get help and support.

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Reasonable progress

Training staff benefit from participating in a range of safeguarding training that supports their skills and confidence in identifying and spotting the signs that may indicate apprentices and adult learners may be at risk and in need of help. Staff with responsibility for safeguarding are suitably trained. Monitoring visit: North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association Limited, 27 and 28 July 2022 Too many apprentices and adults do not have a good understanding of the risks associated with radicalisation, extremism, and how British values apply to them personally and/or in the workplace. Monitoring visit: North Staffordshire Engineering Group Training Association Limited, 27 and 28 July 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

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Reasonable progress

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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Reasonable progress

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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 .

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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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