Childbase Partnership Limited

Childbase Partnership Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Carolyn Brownsea, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 21 and 22 September 2022

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Address: Kingston House Northampton Road Newport Pagnell MK16 8NJ Monitoring visit: Childbase Partnership Limited, 21 and 22 September 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

Childbase Partnership Limited is an employer/partnership provider based in Newport Pagnell. It specialises in training for childcare and early years education in 45 day nurseries in the south of England. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 184 apprentices in learning, of which 63 are 16 to 18 years old. All apprentices are working towards standards-based apprenticeships, with 17 working towards the level 2 early years educator, 155 working towards the level 3 early years educator and 12 working towards the level 3 team leader/supervisor apprenticeship. The partnership does not subcontract any of its provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear rationale to provide ambitious apprenticeships that train apprentices for roles working with children. They have a good understanding of issues impacting the sector, particularly recruitment, retention and negative perceptions of careers in childcare. Leaders engage with schools and colleges to promote career options. Positive imagery has been carefully used to address stereotyping, increasing recruitment from under-represented groups.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure all staff and apprentices benefit from high levels of support and care. All staff benefit from well-planned training that promotes continued professional development and meets the needs of individual settings. Apprentices receive appropriate off-the-job training and undertake a variety of additional activities in the work place.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are aspirational for their apprentices and strive for excellence in their nurseries, which is reflected in their curriculum planning and quality assurance of apprenticeships. They liaise with nursey managers to design a well-planned Monitoring visit: Childbase Partnership Limited, 21 and 22 September 2022 curriculum that meets the requirements and principles of an apprenticeship. Consequently, training links well to apprentices’ job roles and they develop the skills needed to be successful in their employment.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices working towards their functional skills qualifications in English and/or mathematics benefit from contextualised training by expert functional skills trainers. This enables apprentices to apply their learning with the children they work with.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the progress of apprentices and the quality of training. Trainer/assessors use this information well to maintain the progress of apprentices, and as a result apprentices are well prepared for their assessments. Many apprentices achieve a distinction grade.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders’ strategic and growth plans are carefully aligned to staffing levels. Managers ensure trainer/assessors have caseloads that enable them to develop highly effective relationships with their apprentices. Consequently, apprentices are well supported and actions to remedy any concerns or pace of progress are swift and effective.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are highly motivated, enthusiastic and value their training. They develop technical skills, knowledge and behaviours that exceed the requirements of the childcare qualifications. They become effective in their jobs, developing interpersonal skills and positive attitudes and behaviours. They take responsibility for the children they care for and quickly learn to work independently with them. They devise activities linked to the early years framework that, for example, promote healthy eating and diet through exercise. Managers rightly value highly the contribution that apprentices make to their businesses.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that the curriculum is logically sequenced so that apprentices build their knowledge, skills and behaviours over time. Apprentices benefit from a well- planned induction programme. Trainer/assessors and line managers carefully use the results of initial assessment, including existing knowledge and skills, to plan individualised programmes. As a result, apprentices quickly develop the skills required to care for children of different ages.

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Reasonable progress

Highly skilled trainer/assessors plan well-ordered learning activities including off-the- job training activities. They use their knowledge effectively to ensure apprentices link new learning to their workplace. For example, apprentices are able to describe how planned play activities support the children in their care to learn and process information. Monitoring visit: Childbase Partnership Limited, 21 and 22 September 2022 Apprentices quickly learn how to plan and deliver activities using cognitive development and attachment theories that inform the expected patterns of children’s development. This enables them to swiftly identify where a child’s progress is less than expected and initiate additional support plans for the child.

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Reasonable progress

A minority of apprentices do not make expected progress as a result of recruitment issues within their setting. Leaders are aware of these issues and work with the apprentices’ managers to put in place solutions that enable them to meet staffing ratios so that apprentices can participate in learning activities.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have swiftly responded to requests from apprentices for more information on their end-point assessment (EPA). Trainer/assessors provide opportunities for apprentices to present their work, practising their discussion and presentation skills. As a result, apprentices understand what is expected in the EPA and the grades they can attain.

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Significant progress

Leaders, managers and staff have developed a supportive and inclusive safeguarding culture where apprentices feel safe and are safe. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) is appropriately qualified.

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Significant progress

Leaders have a clear focus on the development of apprentices’ broader understanding of safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Staff benefit from training on topics such as domestic violence and social media. Apprentices have an excellent understanding of local issues that might affect them or the children in their care. For example, apprentices have a good understanding of issues such as oral and female genital mutilation among some of the communities who access childcare services. They know what signs for look out for and how to report their concerns.

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Significant progress

The DSL and staff respond swiftly to safeguarding issues and causes for concern. For example, an apprentice at risk from homelessness was supported to access foster care, enabling them to continue their apprenticeship. Monitoring visit: Childbase Partnership Limited, 21 and 22 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 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

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