Associated Neighbour Training Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Associated Neighbour Training Limited

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

Associated Neighbour Training Limited is an independent learning provider based in Surrey. It delivers commercial training and a range of apprenticeships across business, customer service and information and communication technology (ICT) solutions. At the time of the inspection, there were 12 apprentices on standards- based apprenticeships. Five apprentices were on the ICT solutions technician level 3 standard, three apprentices were on the customer service practitioner standard, two were on the business administration level 3 standard and two were on the customer service specialist standard level 3. 18 to 20 October 2022

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices develop purposeful work-related skills that they use effectively to enhance the work of their employers. Employers speak positively about the new skills apprentices develop which help them to work independently at work quickly and successfully.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices’ attendance and behaviour are good. Apprentices are courteous and respectful of the views of other apprentices, their colleagues and managers. They demonstrate these positive behaviours in the workplace with confidence. For example, customer service apprentices understand their responsibilities to listen to customers carefully and provide them with time to explain their concerns, before guiding them to a helpful conclusion.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices are safe and feel safe. They appreciate that bullying, harassment and discrimination are not tolerated in the workplace. They know who to report concerns to and feel confident in talking to their assessors or managers in the workplace. Apprentices receive useful training from assessors on safeguarding, fundamental British values and the ‘Prevent’ duty.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Most apprentices benefit from opportunities to extend their learning beyond their qualifications, which helps them to develop their confidence and resilience well. For example, apprentices on the customer services standard who work with a local authority receive a wealth of valuable training on topics such as conflict resolution, which helps them to manage difficult customers well.

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better?

Leaders work effectively with employers to understand their skills gaps and the positions they are looking to recruit to. Leaders use this information carefully to select the right standards to meet these needs and enable apprentices to add value to their workplace. For example, leaders recognised the growing vacancies for ICT technicians to be skilled in using hardware, so worked with employers to provide the ICT solutions standard which has recruited well.

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better?

Leaders ensure staff are well qualified and experienced to carry out their roles effectively. However, leaders do not provide frequent development opportunities for staff to improve their professional practice. Leaders do record the development staff receive from their other employment which helps them to develop their teaching and assessing skills well.

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better?

Assessors plan learning skilfully to ensure that apprentices develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that employers are looking for. For example, ICT solutions apprentices start by learning about health and safety when using hardware. They then apply this to building detailed multi-layer neural business computer networks safely and successfully. 18 to 20 October 2022

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Leaders and managers ensure that the requirements of an apprenticeship are met well. They make sure employers are clear on their roles and responsibilities to provide valuable on- and off-the-job training and to participate in review meetings, which all do. As a result, employers and assessors work well together to provide good-quality training for apprentices.

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Leaders and assessors ensure most apprentices develop substantial new knowledge and skills which meet the needs of employers successfully. ICT solutions apprentices develop the skills to fit and install software and hardware unsupervised, and they improve their interpersonal skills to work with customers effectively. Business administration and customer service apprentices develop a detailed understanding of the organisational structures they work in. As a result, they can manage customer expectations quickly and escalate these queries to the correct departments effectively.

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Leaders understand most of their strengths and weaknesses well but do not act on weaknesses quickly enough to bring about rapid improvements. For example, while leaders have identified the need to intervene more swiftly if apprentices fall behind intended progress, they have been too slow to implement these strategies for improvement. As a result, not all apprentices make the rapid progress of which they are capable.

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Leaders do not work closely enough with employers to enable them to understand fully the impact of the personal development opportunities employers provide. As a result, leaders are not aware of how well apprentices develop their wider skills to support their career progression.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders ensure the designated safeguarding lead is suitably trained and knowledgeable. They ensure staff receive effective training to identify and act upon any safeguarding concerns quickly. Leaders use clear and sensible safeguarding policies and procedures. Leaders recruit staff safely. While apprentices feel safe and are safe, not all apprentices recall fully their learning on risks local to them.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Leaders and managers must ensure all apprentices benefit from a personal development curriculum that develops their wider skills and knowledge so they can reach their full potential.  Leaders must ensure they have effective procedures in place to track and monitor apprentices’ progress so they can better support apprentices to achieve to the best of their ability.  Leaders must ensure all apprentices develop their awareness of the ‘Prevent’ duty and risks local to where they live and work. 18 to 20 October 2022

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Provider details

Address 207 Soper Hall Harestone Valley Road Caterham CR3 6HY

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Duncan Neighbour

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Provider details

Main subcontractors No subcontractors 18 to 20 October 2022

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the operations manager, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Daniel Beale, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Martin Hughes Ofsted Inspector 18 to 20 October 2022

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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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