NHBC Services Limited

NHBC Services Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Fadia Clarke, Ofsted Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: NHBC House Davy Avenue Milton Keynes MK5 8FP Monitoring visit: NHBC Services Limited, 27 and 28 June 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

National House Building Council (NHBC) Services Limited is an independent learning provider. It was established in 1936 as a provider of warranty and insurance for new homes. NHBC has training sites in Milton Keynes and Tamworth. At the time of the inspection, there were 257 apprentices on level 4 construction site supervisor and level 2 bricklayer standards. Level 4 construction site supervisor is taught online, while bricklayer theoretical knowledge is delivered face to face at the Tamworth hub. Around a quarter of apprentices are studying functional skills English and mathematics qualifications. At the time of the inspection, 20 apprentices were aged 16 to 18 years. There were no apprentices in receipt of high needs funding. NHBC Services Limited does not work with any subcontractors.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum that responds to local and regional skills shortages in bricklaying and construction site supervisors. They cleverly link their core business of home buyer insurance to the need for good-quality housing. As a result, they use apprenticeship programmes to develop a skilled workforce to minimise home warranty claims and to address skills shortages in the building industry.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders work well with employers to design, sequence and evaluate the curriculum so that it meets their specific business needs. For example, site supervisor apprentices learn construction legislation prior to joining site activities to enhance their ability to work independently in a supervisory role. Brickwork apprentices learn quickly about cavity walls and wall insulations to support the building workflow. Monitoring visit: NHBC Services Limited, 27 and 28 June 2022 Leaders make sure the teaching staff are suitably qualified and occupationally experienced in the apprenticeship sector areas. They encourage tutors to take part in external industry-related training to keep up to date with new construction and building techniques. Consequently, apprentices receive up-to-date industry training of a suitable standard.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and staff prepare apprentices successfully for their final assessment. They ensure effective communication between staff, apprentices and employers about assessment expectations. They help apprentices understand how to achieve the highest grades through a wide range of helpful preparatory activities, such as practice tests, discussions and mock practical tasks. As a result, employers engage well with apprentices’ preparation for the exams and apprentices feel well prepared for their final assessments, as the majority are yet to take their exams.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a reasonable understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the quality of their apprenticeship provision. However, they do not systematically assure themselves that apprentices consistently benefit from high-quality teaching and assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a newly established governance arrangement. However, they recognise that governors have not had sufficient time to support and challenge the quality of training.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop new knowledge, skills and professional behaviours at their workplace which help them to become effective site supervisors and competent bricklayers. Employers value the contribution apprentices make to their businesses. For example, site supervisor apprentices learn how to adapt communication with site staff to improve performance by learning about customer processes from alternative perspectives.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors sequence on- and off-the-job training thoroughly to ensure apprentices benefit from teaching sessions that help them apply their new knowledge, skills and behaviours at work. For example, bricklaying apprentices complete five weeks of block cycle training on topics such as trowel skills and cavity wall insulation. Employers then receive a breakdown of the apprentices’ abilities to influence apprentices’ site tasks when putting into practice learned knowledge.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors diligently ensure apprentices gain new knowledge and extensive skills through well-structured teaching sessions. They identify gaps in apprentices’ knowledge and skills and work with employers to set meaningful targets. As a result, Monitoring visit: NHBC Services Limited, 27 and 28 June 2022 apprentices who are behind are successfully identified and supported by tutors and employers to catch up.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide useful careers advice to apprentices, which helps them know and feel confident about their career opportunities and their progression prospects.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors do not always give useful written feedback to help apprentices improve their work. Too often, tutors’ feedback on assessment is affirmative and brief. As a result, not all apprentices make the rapid progress of which they are capable.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have been too slow in supporting all apprentices to develop their English and mathematical skills. While new cohorts have benefited from additional support in these subjects, apprentices who have been on programme for a while have not received this support. For these apprentices, this has slowed their progress and delayed the completion of their training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have prioritised a strong culture of safeguarding, well-being and welfare. The suitably trained safeguarding team has a secure knowledge of local safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ risks, which they use to keep apprentices safe.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure staff are recruited safely. They provide them with regular training on health and safety, safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty contextualised to the construction industry to support apprentices effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe and are confident about the support they receive. Staff teach them about a range of safeguarding topics, such as stalking, homelessness, workplace stress and bullying concerns, to help them keep safe. All apprentices, particular those studying bricklaying, have a good understanding of safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Monitoring visit: NHBC Services Limited, 27 and 28 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

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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

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