Approved Training Limited

Approved Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Andrea Machell, Ofsted Inspector

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Address:

31 Great King Street Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 6PL Monitoring visit: Approved Training Limited, 2 and 3 February 2023

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Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision funded 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

Approved Training Limited (ATL) is an independent learning provider based in Bollington, Cheshire. The provider has been training apprentices since January 2022. At the time of the monitoring visit, the provider had five apprentices enrolled. Most apprentices study level 3 maintenance and operations engineering technician standards-based apprenticeships. A very small number study the level 5 operations and departmental manager apprenticeship. ATL works with two employers.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear curriculum rationale in which they provide apprenticeships to fill staffing shortages in the engineering sector. They work closely with employers to ensure that the curriculum meets their specific needs. For example, leaders have adapted the curriculum to include robotics.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders prepare apprentices well to progress into further study or promotion at work. They include additional qualifications, such as an extended National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and a diploma at level 3 for engineering apprentices . Consequently, apprentices develop their knowledge beyond the minimum requirements of the apprenticeship standard.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers are suitably experienced and qualified in their specialist subject areas. Leaders ensure that trainers receive industry updates to keep them up to date with developments in their sectors. For example, they attend training on seventeenth edition electrical wiring regulations. However, leaders do not ensure that trainers develop their teaching skills further to enhance the learning experience that apprentices receive.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders carefully track the progress that apprentices make towards the development of their theoretical and practical knowledge. Most apprentices make at least their Monitoring visit: Approved Training Limited, 2 and 3 February 2023 expected progress towards developing substantial new knowledge, skills, and behaviours.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have only very recently introduced a range of activities to monitor the quality of education that apprentices receive. For example, they now carry out observations of training sessions. Leaders have just started to complete a self- assessment and quality improvement plan to ensure that the quality of education is continuously improved. It is too soon to assess the effectiveness of these actions.

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Reasonable progress

Those responsible for governance are suitably experienced to carry out their roles. Advisory board members provide sufficient challenge and support to ensure that leaders make progress in improving the quality of education for apprentices. For example, they have recently requested that leaders produce a self-assessment and improvement plan, so that leaders and the advisory board can monitor improvements more carefully.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers plan the curriculum in a logical way to build apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours over time. Level 3 engineering apprentices first learn about initial tool skills and mechanical principles and how to apply them at work. They then learn about the concepts of electrical fault finding and diagnostics. Most apprentices develop the skills they need to be successful at work swiftly.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers plan and coordinate apprentices’ on- and off-the-job training successfully. They carry out frequent progress reviews with apprentices and their employer, so that the curriculum, which is taught in blocks of learning on the employer's premises, helps apprentices to improve their effectiveness in the workplace. For instance, they develop skills in electrical fault finding when working on robotic systems used by an online supermarket.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices take pride in their work. They produce work that is of a high standard and is well presented. Apprentices demonstrate a good understanding of the correct technical terms to use in advanced manufacturing techniques, such as coding and software. Level 5 operations and departmental manager apprentices produce written reports on financial forecasts for their employer.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers use assessment strategies effectively. They check apprentices' understanding and provide activities that prepare them well for their final assessment. Most apprentices are ambitious to achieve high grades.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers ensure that apprentices develop their mathematical skills through completing advanced mathematics units. They are able to apply mathematical Monitoring visit: Approved Training Limited, 2 and 3 February 2023 concepts while at work. For instance, engineering apprentices calculate mechanical stress and electrical resistance when maintaining equipment.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices make good progress on their course and are well prepared for their next steps. For example, engineering apprentices progress on to foundation degrees in electrical engineering. Apprentices on the level 5 operations and departmental manager apprenticeship move into promoted posts.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and trainers do not always use the information they collect about what apprentices already know and can do to plan an ambitious wider curriculum for all apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders ensure that all members of the safeguarding team are suitably qualified. They ensure that there are appropriate safeguarding policies and processes in place to keep apprentices safe.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders complete a range of appropriate checks when appointing new staff to make sure they are suitable to work with apprentices. All staff including advisory board members, receive appropriate training and updates on safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices demonstrate an excellent understanding of the correct health and safety procedures to follow when working on site. They receive training on the handling of hazardous substances and risk assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have not yet had any safeguarding concerns to report, so the system in place to record any incidents has yet to be used.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe. They know who to go to if they have any concerns. They receive information during their apprenticeship about safeguarding, online safety and the dangers associated with radicalisation and extremism. Monitoring visit: Approved Training Limited, 2 and 3 February 2023 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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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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

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