Potential Realised - HR and Training Limited

Potential Realised – HR and Training Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Kim Bleasdale, Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

Ambrose Cottage 50 Pimbo Lane Upholland Wigan Lancashire WN8 9QL Monitoring visit: Potential Realised – HR and Training Limited, 20 and 21 July 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

Potential Realised – HR and Training Limited is an independent learning provider based in Wigan, Lancashire. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 29 apprentices. Of these, 17 apprentices were studying the level 3 team leader or supervisor standard, and 12 apprentices were studying the level 7 senior people professional standard. The provider does not subcontract any of their provision.

p.2

Reasonable Progress

Leaders and managers have selected and developed an appropriate curriculum. They use their leadership and human resource management expertise to plan effective training for individuals who seek careers in leadership and human resource management.

p.2

Reasonable Progress

Leaders ensure that tutors have the suitable experience and qualifications to teach their subjects. Tutors are members of professional bodies such as the Chartered Management Institute and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. They routinely update their professional knowledge by attending conferences and carrying out relevant reading. Leaders provide tutors with a range of useful training. This includes employment law updates, how to manage difficult conversations with staff and end-point assessment training. This helps tutors to develop their subject knowledge further.

p.2

Reasonable Progress

Leaders have appropriate systems in place to track and monitor the progress that apprentices make towards the development of their knowledge, skills and behaviours. They hold regular meetings with tutors to discuss apprentices’ progress and any areas of concern, for instance, if an apprentice submits work after a deadline. Tutors put effective support in place to help apprentices to catch up, such as increased workplace visits or additional coaching sessions. Monitoring visit: Potential Realised – HR and Training Limited, 20 and 21 July 2022 Managers carefully consider the well-being and workload of staff. Managers give tutors low caseloads. They ensure that tutors have sufficient planning and marking time. Tutors appreciate the support they receive from managers.

p.2

Reasonable Progress

Leaders understand what they do well and what they need to do to improve. They have effective processes to monitor the quality of their provision and of staff. Managers carry out observations of training and review the quality of tutors’ feedback that apprentices receive. As a result, apprentices are making at least their expected progress towards developing substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours.

p.3

Reasonable Progress

Those responsible for governance have appropriate experience to carry out their roles. They carefully monitor the progress that leaders make in improving the quality of education for apprentices.

p.3

Reasonable Progress

Curriculum leaders and tutors plan the curriculum in a logical way to build apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours over time. This helps apprentices to recall their learning and apply it at work. Level 7 senior people professional apprentices firstly learn how to lead and support change within their organisations. They then learn about strategies and ways to reward staff so that they can apply this at work, for example, by giving financial incentives such as bonuses for meeting targets. As a result, apprentices develop new and occupationally specific knowledge, skills and behaviours that they apply at work.

p.3

Reasonable Progress

Tutors provide useful feedback that tells apprentices what they have done well and what they need to do to improve their work. They often challenge level 7 senior people professional apprentices to draw upon theory to underpin or increase the persuasiveness of their case. As a result, most apprentices’ work improves over time.

p.3

Reasonable Progress

Most apprentices routinely use their English and mathematical skills at work. Level 7 senior people professional apprentices design and produce comprehensive company policies. They successfully manage budgets by accurately analysing and forecasting expenditure.

p.3

Reasonable Progress

The planning of on- and off-the-job training is not coordinated well enough. Tutors do not routinely involve all apprentices’ managers in the process. A small minority of managers do not know what opportunities to provide for apprentices to practise and hone their skills at work. As a result, too many apprentices do not make the rapid progress of which they are capable. Monitoring visit: Potential Realised – HR and Training Limited, 20 and 21 July 2022 Leaders and tutors ensure that most apprentices understand the requirements of their final assessments. However, a few apprentices struggled to remember what they need to do for the portfolio element of their final assessments.

p.3

Reasonable Progress

Senior leaders and managers place a high priority on keeping apprentices safe. They ensure that all members of the safeguarding team are suitably qualified. Leaders complete a range of appropriate checks when appointing new staff to make sure they are suitable to work with apprentices.

p.4

Reasonable Progress

All staff, including the designated safeguarding lead, receive appropriate training on safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Tutors are trained in mental-health first aid. They provide appropriate support to apprentices who, for instance, are struggling to cope with the pressures of work. Apprentices feel well supported by their tutors.

p.4

Reasonable Progress

Leaders provide apprentices with information during their induction about safeguarding, online safety and the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. Apprentices feel safe and know who to contact if they have any safeguarding concerns at the provider. Monitoring visit: Potential Realised – HR and Training Limited, 20 and 21 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 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