That Nail Place Limited

That Nail Place Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Viki Faulkner, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 10 Guildhall Street Folkestone CT20 1DZ Monitoring visit: That Nail Place Limited, 24 and 25 August 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

That Nail Place Limited (known as TNB) is an independent learning provider based in Kent. Established in 2008, it specialises in providing apprenticeships and traineeships to meet the needs of employers in the hair and beauty industry. It has offered standards-based apprenticeships under its own contract since August 2020. It has training centres in Folkestone, Whitstable and Sittingbourne and provides online training to apprentices throughout England.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 59 apprentices in training. Of these, 18 are enrolled on the level 2 hair professional apprenticeship, 12 on the level 2 beauty therapist apprenticeship, 10 on the level 2 customer service apprenticeship, eight on the level 3 team leader apprenticeship, seven on the level 4 assessor coach apprenticeship and less than five apprentices on the level 3 advanced beauty therapist and level 3 customer service specialist standards. Almost half of the apprentices are aged 16 to 18. The provider does not subcontract any of its provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders use their industry expertise well to provide an apprenticeship offer which meets the needs of hair and beauty salon owners. They introduced new apprenticeships, such as the level 3 team leader programme, to build the business skills of salons. Employers speak very positively about their strong relationship with TNB and the support they receive from them.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders meet the requirements of apprenticeships. They work effectively with employers to complete commitment statements. Leaders ensure apprentices receive their entitlement to useful off-the-job training to complete their studies. Most line Monitoring visit: That Nail Place Limited, 24 and 25 August 2022 managers engage well with the apprenticeship programme and participate fully in frequent, helpful progress reviews, which helps apprentices make good progress

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure arrangements for apprenticeship end-point assessments (EPA) are in place. In a few cases, employers are not aware of the requirements of the EPA. They focus instead on individual skills. As a result, a small number of apprentices are less confident about what they need to do to prepare for the final assessments.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices, including those with additional learning needs, develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours which they apply suitably in the workplace. Specialist tutors help apprentices who need English and mathematics as part of their apprenticeship to achieve well.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure staff are well qualified and appropriately trained to carry out their roles effectively. Salon staff new to training, study the level 3 teaching or level 4 assessor qualifications and quickly develop the additional skills they need to successfully perform their roles.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders rightly recognise too many apprentices left before completing their programme. When they identify trends which lead to early withdrawal, they take action to improve the quality of education. For example, opening a satellite centre to increase access to face-to-face learning.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers plan learning carefully to meet the needs of apprentices and employers. They ensure apprentices cover topics in a logical order that fits business requirements. For example, hair apprentices learn about shampooing and consulting before learning about styling and finishing, so they understand the customer journey. Customer service apprentices carry out workplace projects to develop skills, such as managing bookings, when they are most relevant.

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Reasonable progress

Staff work with employers well, to combine off- and on-the-job training for apprenticeships. Tutors highlight skills covered in hair and beauty training sessions. This enables employers to put in place weekly practice with models and clients to reinforce learning.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are learning and applying new knowledge and skills. For example, level 2 hair apprentices gained confidence and competence quickly in one-layer cuts, re-tints and colouring. They provide these services skilfully to clients in their salons. Level 3 team leader apprentices carry out stock-takes and lead team meetings, contributing positively to the smooth running of the business. Monitoring visit: That Nail Place Limited, 24 and 25 August 2022 Tutors provide helpful, constructive feedback on written and practical tasks which identifies strengths and targets for improvement. As a result, most apprentices and their employers are clear about the progress they are making, and what they need to do to improve.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders closely monitor apprentice’s progress. They put in place helpful, effective interventions for those at risk of falling behind. Leaders were too slow to identify the lack of timely, helpful feedback for level 3 team leader apprentices. As a result, most are now significantly past their planned end date.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit apprentices appropriately. They use skills scans to identify apprentices’ prior knowledge and map this rightly to the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprenticeship standard. Leaders do not use their understanding of apprentices’ starting points well when planning programmes of learning. As a result, a small number of apprentices repeat learning.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place appropriate policies and procedures which contribute effectively to keeping learners safe. Leaders recruit staff appropriately to ensure they are safe to work with apprentices. Managers carry out health and safety checks on new settings to confirm workplaces provide a safe environment for apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

All staff, including those with safeguarding responsibilities, are suitably trained to keep apprentices safe. Staff are confident about how to report safeguarding concerns and the procedures to follow to escalate concerns, including the appropriate involvement of external agencies.

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Reasonable progress

Staff teach apprentices how to keep safe while working within the hair and beauty sector, for example when working with clients on their own. Apprentices feel safe. They know who they should speak to if they have a safeguarding concern and what safeguarding concerns might involve. Monitoring visit: That Nail Place Limited, 24 and 25 August 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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Reasonable progress

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

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