Elevated Knowledge Ltd

Elevated Knowledge Ltd Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Alastair Mollon, His Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection date(s): 14 and 15 September 2022

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

5 Archway Turing House Hulme Manchester M15 5RL Monitoring visit: Elevated Knowledge Ltd, 14 and 15 September 2022

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Context and focus of visit

Elevated Knowledge Ltd (Elevated Knowledge) was inspected in August 2021. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in responding to the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Context and focus of visit

Elevated Knowledge is a national training provider based in Manchester that provides courses in lift engineering and was registered as a training company in 2015. In September 2017, the Education and Skills Funding Agency awarded Elevated Knowledge an apprenticeship contract.

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Context and focus of visit

Elevated Knowledge currently has 48 apprentices on standards-based apprenticeships at level 2 and 3. The largest programme is the level 3 lift and escalator electromechanic with 45 apprentices. The remaining apprentices follow the level 2 stair lift, platform lift, service lift electromechanic apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, trainers have benefited from staff development activities to improve the quality of training for apprentices. Trainers all complete a level 3 qualification in vocational assessing when they join the company. New trainers shadow their more experienced colleagues and benefit from second-line assessment of their work to ensure they make correct assessment decisions and provide apprentices with useful feedback to help them improve the quality of their work. All trainers complete qualifications between levels 3 and 5 in education and training to improve their knowledge and skills in teaching.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that trainers are industry experts with a wealth of experience as qualified lift engineers and technical experts. Trainers maintain their sector skills and expertise through ‘back to the floor’ days and completing lift and escalator industry association updates. They attend employer training on new products, including stairlifts and platform lifts that apprentices service and maintain at work. Monitoring visit: Elevated Knowledge Ltd, 14 and 15 September 2022 Leaders attend monthly on-site training sessions to assess the quality of training that apprentices receive. They video record observations and assessments that apprentices complete, and use these in standardisation activities and to share best practice. Leaders recently used standardisation discussions to identify staff training needs in escalator technology. They plan professional development activities accordingly. All trainers have development plans devised with an external mentor to

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Reasonable progress

help them improve their teaching skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have started to work with educational consultants with the purpose of evaluating the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, and to rectify any deficits in trainers’ teaching skills. However, this has not yet had a demonstrable impact. Leaders recognise that currently, they focus quality assurance processes on the compliance aspects of the apprenticeship and do not pay enough attention to improving the quality of training that apprentices receive.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices value the expertise and support of their trainers. They say that trainers really ‘know their stuff’ and use their own industry experience to explain key concepts and ideas clearly.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have taken steps to ensure that trainers use a full range of assessments of apprentices’ prior knowledge, skills and experience before enrolling on their programme. Leaders ensure trainers use the results of these assessments to identify apprentices’ strengths and weaknesses. Trainers plan learning to fill any gaps in knowledge, skills and behaviours identified, or to alter the length of programme should apprentices have any significant prior learning.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers use practical observations and video recordings of workplace activities to check and monitor apprentices’ progress and development. Using skilful assessment activities, trainers accurately identify gaps in apprentices’ knowledge and use effective teaching strategies to respond to knowledge and skills deficits. They complete formal progress reviews quarterly and informal reviews monthly with their apprentices to discuss progress and to prioritise areas for further development. Most apprentices make at least their expected levels of progress.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers provide apprentices with helpful feedback following written and practical assessment. They provide useful, specific feedback on what apprentices need to do to improve the quality of their work. Apprentices act on the feedback that they receive and, consequently, the quality of their work improves over time. They routinely support their written assessments with photographs and videos of themselves completing practical work. Monitoring visit: Elevated Knowledge Ltd, 14 and 15 September 2022 Leaders ensure that trainers prepare their apprentices effectively for their final assessments. Apprentices complete mock assessments using awarding body materials to mimic the final assessment process. Trainers use the results of these assessments to fill gaps in learning and in apprentices’ approach to assessment. Apprentices who are not successful in their mock examinations receive additional support and training. Consequently, apprentices pass their resits.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel well supported in preparing for their final assessment. They attend three block days of off-the-job training and benefit from support for examination preparation and techniques. Apprentices have a good understanding of the assessment requirements and the grade that they are working towards.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders meet with employers monthly to provide an oversight of apprentices’ progress and to action plan ‘catch up’ activities for any apprentices who fall behind. Trainers meet with apprentices’ line managers to discuss any areas of concern, arrange additional training, and organise additional reviews to assess progress.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have invested in an electronic system that helps them track and monitor apprentices’ progress closely. Leaders swiftly identify apprentices who fall behind in their learning, and put actions in place to help them to catch up swiftly.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices who fell behind because of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and changes to their training team have caught up quickly. They benefited from clear and precise action plans, devised with their trainers, to catch up on work missed and to complete the assessments they needed to demonstrate their practical development and competence. Those apprentices make at least their expected levels of progress.

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Reasonable progress

The very few apprentices that followed the level 3 engineering maintenance framework apprenticeship have caught up, completed and achieved their apprenticeships since the previous inspection. All remain in the industry as lift engineers.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have revised the planning for, and delivery of, impartial careers information, advice and guidance for apprentices. They have taken Monitoring visit: Elevated Knowledge Ltd, 14 and 15 September 2022 steps to increase apprentices’ awareness of the range of career options available to them through a specific career planning programme completed by each apprentice and their trainer.

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Reasonable progress

At enrolment, trainers discuss initial career plans, aspirations and ideas with apprentices to gauge their knowledge of the different pathways and routes available to them. Trainers use their own sector experience to inform apprentices of the myriad of potential directions and prospects for their futures in the lift and elevator engineering industry.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices complete an additional programme on career planning during their apprenticeship. They explore potential next steps within the industry, their options for joining a professional body, and the range of career pathways available. Apprentices benefit from modules and content that cover pathways and roles within the sector including management, technical sales, trouble shooter roles, installation, consultancy, insurance inspector and self-employment. This provides apprentices with improved information about their potential next steps and career progression.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive effective careers guidance relating to the lift and escalator engineering sector. They discuss career options and opportunities such as promotion and additional responsibilities at work with their trainers and employers. Apprentices have a good understanding of further sector-related training such as the level 4 lift tester apprenticeship. Monitoring visit: Elevated Knowledge Ltd, 14 and 15 September 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

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children's services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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