Groundwork Greater Manchester

Groundwork Greater Manchester Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Suzanne Wainwright, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Trafford Ecology Park Lake Road Stretford Manchester M17 1TU Monitoring visit: Groundwork Greater Manchester, 26 and 27 July 2022

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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.

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Context and focus of visit

Groundwork Greater Manchester is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. It was formed through a merger in August 2020 between the former Groundwork Trust that covered Bury, Bolton, Oldham and Rochdale and the Trust that covered Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford. Groundwork Greater Manchester operates across all nine boroughs of Greater Manchester and has three offices based in Trafford, Rochdale and Tameside. The focus of its adult learning provision is to support young adults to reach their full potential, particularly those with significant barriers to learning and those who are experiencing challenge and hardship in their lives. The majority of learners have high levels of additional needs such as autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia and social, emotional and/or mental health issues.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 19 young adults on the 12-week Prince’s Trust programme. Groundwork Greater Manchester also offers short, non- accredited adult learning programmes that focus on the green economy. None were taking place at the time of the visit. Groundwork Greater Manchester’s adult education contract amounts to approximately 3% of its total turnover.

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Significant progress

Staff and trustees are extremely passionate about helping adults to achieve their full potential. They have designed a highly ambitious curriculum that supports learners to develop the skills they need for a successful working life. The curriculum significantly transforms the lives and life chances of most learners. For example, over two thirds of learners who complete the Prince’s Trust programmes gain sustainable employment at the end of their course. Almost all learners on the green economy programmes progress to the government’s Kickstart Scheme with around three quarters moving into relevant employment at the end of their six-month job placement. Monitoring visit: Groundwork Greater Manchester, 26 and 27 July 2022 In addition to the structured Prince’s Trust programme, leaders have enhanced the curriculum with additional qualifications in subjects such as first aid, carbon literacy and money management. Learners recognise the value and transferability of the new

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Significant progress

knowledge and skills that the broader curriculum provides, particularly in enhancing their employment prospects. For example, through the employment, teamwork and community skills qualification, learners now know how to plan events, write funding bids and encourage volunteers to participate in projects.

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Significant progress

Leaders and trustees have an excellent understanding of the quality of their provision and how effectively it meets the needs of their various client groups. Their self-assessment report is highly evaluative and identifies clearly what leaders need to do to improve the quality of education. Leaders and trustees review the quality improvement plan regularly to ensure that improvements are implemented swiftly.

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Significant progress

Leaders ensure that staff receive highly appropriate and regular professional development training. Topics focus directly on the needs of learners such as training in neurodiversity, mental health, early trauma and understanding the positive and negative impact of social media.

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Significant progress

The members of the compliance and performance committee provide highly effective governance and scrutiny of the adult learning provision. Members of the trustee and associate trustee boards are extremely knowledgeable and experienced in their fields. Collectively, they cover a broad range of high-level skills that include further education, finance, law, charity matters and strategic planning. These skills are clearly evident in the rigorous and challenging discussions that trustees have with senior leaders when holding them to account for the quality of the provision.

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Significant progress

Tutors use information about learners’ prior knowledge and skills very effectively to plan high-quality, well-structured programmes that meet learners’ individual needs and personal goals. Tutors quickly gain a thorough understanding of each learner’s interests and aspirations. They modify the curriculum prior to the start of each programme so that it reflects the specific needs and interests of the group.

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Significant progress

Tutors provide a highly inclusive and supportive learning environment. Learners from a broad range of backgrounds, academic abilities and educational experiences work effectively and respectfully together. Sessions are productive and are undertaken in a calm and professional manner. Tutors are highly experienced. They are adept at contextualising activities and topics to the local area and the opportunities for learners in the job market. Monitoring visit: Groundwork Greater Manchester, 26 and 27 July 2022 Tutors and team leaders monitor learners’ progress closely and effectively. They provide clear and effective feedback to learners that helps them to quickly improve the standard of their work. Tutors are fully aware of any personal issues that may impact learners’ work and/or attendance. They adjust the content of programmes to enable learners to cope with what is happening in their personal lives while still

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Significant progress

retaining a focus on developing workplace expectations. Tutors provide timely support, including referrals for help with housing and benefit claims. Consequently, most learners complete their courses and progress to full-time employment or further training.

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Significant progress

Learners enjoy their sessions. Attendance at sessions is consistently high for most learners. Any withdrawals are mostly due to an escalation in the individual’s personal circumstances. All learners who complete their programme recognise how successfully they have developed personally and professionally. For example, they grow considerably in self-confidence, are able to work effectively in teams, significantly improve their communication skills and take full responsibility for their actions.

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Significant progress

Learners benefit from high-quality, relevant careers information, advice and guidance, particularly during their two work-placement weeks. Tutors use local contacts effectively to support learners in seeking employment and/or further training at other local providers.

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Significant progress

Leaders ensure that safeguarding is at the forefront of everything they do. All staff and trustees receive regular and pertinent training in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. The three designated safeguarding leads receive effective training that supports them to carry out their roles skilfully and sensitively.

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Significant progress

Learners feel safe and are safe. They quickly develop confidence and trust to discuss their concerns with staff. Staff have effective links with a wide variety of external agencies that they use adeptly to provide relevant support for learners who are struggling in their personal lives or with medical issues, particularly mental health.

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Significant progress

Leaders and tutors are highly skilled in identifying specific safeguarding issues that could harm their learners. For example, following the pandemic, they recognised the potential issues around incels, the manosphere and misogamy, as well as far-right extremism and the impact of conspiracy theories. Staff are highly competent in reporting their concerns.

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Significant progress

Leaders carry out a comprehensive, pre-employment scrutiny of a job applicant’s suitability to work with their learners. Monitoring visit: Groundwork Greater Manchester, 26 and 27 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.

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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

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