Blyth Harbour Commissioners

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Blyth Harbour Commissioners

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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Information about this provider

Blyth Harbour Commissioners, trading as Port Training Services, is an independent learning provider based in Blyth, Northumberland. It offers apprenticeships at level 2 in the port sector. At the time of the inspection, there were 44 apprentices on the level 2 port operative standard. Port Training Services provides apprenticeships to employers operating in six ports across England. The majority of apprentices are aged over 19. 18 to 20 January 2023

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

Most apprentices who have been on programme for some time are not sufficiently aware of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to achieve their apprenticeship. Too many of these apprentices are not aware of the requirements of end-point assessment. A few apprentices are frustrated that they are not receiving sufficient training beyond the intensive induction period, and many have negative attitudes towards their learning. Too often, they are not clear about what they need to do to complete the programme.

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

Most new apprentices have developed positive attitudes and are very committed to their learning. They attend well, are punctual and are supported well to overcome the challenges of working in the port sector. They understand the importance of relevant legislation, and they use this information well to produce risk assessments in the workplace.

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

Apprentices develop professional and supportive relationships. Their conduct in training and the workplace is of a professional standard. They are courteous, approachable, respectful and very aware of risks. For example, apprentices know that they must wear protective equipment, including safety glasses to prevent chemical dust from entering their eyes.

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

Apprentices take part in initiatives such as training on healthy lifestyles, social clubs and events, including the Tall Ships project, which help them to appreciate what life at sea is like. However, apprentices’ access to these enrichment experiences varies across ports, with employers at some ports being reluctant to release apprentices to go on outward-bound and team-building courses.

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

Apprentices receive useful training about equality and diversity. They learn about the rule of law and democracy. For example, they learn about the Equality Act and how this applies to them in their workplace. Apprentices know that they will come into frequent contact with foreign nationals in their ports, and they recognise the importance of respecting and valuing different cultures.

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better?

Leaders have not focused sufficiently on improving the quality and consistency of education for their apprentices across all ports. They have not monitored carefully enough the quality of teaching or ensured that all apprentices receive sufficient teaching to enable them to make the progress of which they are capable.

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better?

Leaders do not ensure that all apprentices, particularly those who have been on programme for some time, follow a well-planned curriculum that takes account of their individual starting points. Apprentices with differing starting points do not benefit from having their varied prior experience considered well enough when their 18 to 20 January 2023

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programme commences. For a few apprentices, this is slowing their development and understanding, as well as delaying them from accessing end-point assessment.

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Managers do not ensure that off-the-job training is appropriately planned and delivered consistently well across ports. At a number of ports, this element of the training is effective. However, apprentices in Southampton and Sheerness are mostly required to complete self-study packages and receive infrequent training. There is still too much reliance at these ports on employers to teach the underpinning knowledge, skills and behaviours that their apprentices need at work. A few apprentices find it difficult to recall knowledge from early in the programme due to long gaps in training. These apprentices do not progress swiftly or deepen their knowledge sufficiently.

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Managers and trainers do not ensure that employers are fully involved in review meetings with apprentices. As a result, employers are often not clear on the progress that their apprentices are making or the additional support they may require to be successful. Trainers do not ensure that reviews are completed in a timely way. The targets that they set for apprentices are often not ambitious enough or are too broad. This means that apprentices are often insufficiently aware of gaps in learning that they need to fill or how to work towards high grades at end-point assessment.

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Too often, trainers do not provide apprentices with sufficiently constructive and developmental feedback to help them to improve the quality of their work. In too many instances, they do not check and consolidate apprentices’ understanding well enough to ensure that apprentices have secure knowledge. This often impedes apprentices’ progress.

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Apprentices benefit from positive workplace environments in which they can thrive, learn and develop. They rapidly build resilience and have positive attitudes that enable them to become valued quickly by their organisations. Apprentices carry out valuable training in areas such as forklift truck driving, reach handlers and tow trucks. They successfully use the skills that they acquire and quickly become operationally effective in their roles.

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Leaders have taken a range of actions to improve the quality of English and mathematics training. Trainers now set individualised teaching plans for apprentices studying towards English and mathematics qualifications. However, most apprentices who are exempt from taking functional skills examinations do not receive additional tuition to develop their English and mathematics skills further.

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Managers have introduced a highly specialised curriculum that is meeting the need for better-skilled port operatives across England. Most apprentices are retained in the port sector and progress on to more senior roles.

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Managers recruit trainers with extensive knowledge and credibility in the sector who have experience as port supervisors and managers. Trainers continue to update their professional development. For example, they complete training in ‘Prevent’ duty, 18 to 20 January 2023

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safeguarding, and equality and diversity. In addition, all staff have completed level 3 safeguarding training.

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Leaders have taken effective action to improve the initial advice and guidance that staff provide for those apprentices recruited more recently. There are early indications that newer cohorts of apprentices are developing the significant new knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need. However, a few continuing apprentices believe that they are enrolled on a level 3 apprenticeship and, consequently, they place more value on the additional level 3 qualification than the level 2 apprenticeship.

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Senior leaders responsible for governance understand the provider’s key areas for improvement. Governors hold managers to account by monitoring an improvement action plan monthly. Senior leaders ensure that board members are aware of changes that are already having a positive impact, such as the recruitment of new staff to support improvements in the provision of English and mathematics.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Apprentices feel safe. They have a sound knowledge of the potential risks to their health and safety and that of their colleagues working in the port sector.

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Safeguarding

Apprentices benefit from extensive training on manual handling, site safety and security. They speak confidently about actions they would take in the event of any safeguarding issues. Apprentices understand how to spot potential high risks to port security, including carefully looking out for suspicious packages and stowaways on vessels.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding leads have developed comprehensive safeguarding, safe recruitment and ‘Prevent’ duty policies. Managers have established links with the regional ‘Prevent’ coordinator. However, trainers do not make apprentices aware enough of local threats to their safety, such as county lines gangs operating across local borders.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Put in place effective arrangements for oversight of the apprenticeship so that managers are fully aware of the quality of the programmes being delivered across all ports and can act quickly to improve the quality in locations where it is not high enough.  Ensure that all apprentices follow a well-planned curriculum that takes account of their individual starting points. 18 to 20 January 2023

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 Ensure that all progress review meetings include employers so that apprentices are well supported and employers understand the progress that their apprentices are making and the additional support they may need.  Ensure that managers work with employers to plan effective off-the-job training so that all apprentices receive their full entitlement.  Ensure that trainers develop further the English and mathematical skills for those apprentices who are exempt from taking functional skills examinations.  Ensure that apprentices benefit from clear guidance and targets to help them to make rapid progress.  Ensure that trainers provide apprentices with useful feedback on their work so that they know how they can improve it.  Ensure that trainers provide information to apprentices about local risks to their safety, including county lines activity, radicalisation and extremism. 18 to 20 January 2023

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Provider details

Address Blyth Harbour Commissioners Port Training Services Blyth Northumberland NE24 3PA

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Provider details

Website https://porttrainingservices.co.uk

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Clive Bassam

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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 None 18 to 20 January 2023

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the training 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

Alison Gray, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector Ian Frear His Majesty’s Inspector Gavin Batty Ofsted Inspector Marta Gajewska-Kopczyk Ofsted Inspector Daniel Beale His Majesty’s Inspector 18 to 20 January 2023

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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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