Trans-Plant Training Limited

Trans-Plant Training Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Steve Battersby, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 21 and 22 February 2023

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Trans-Plant Mastertrain The Matford Centre Matford Park Road Marsh Barton Exeter EX2 8FD Monitoring visit: Trans-Plant Training Limited, 21 and 22 February 2023

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Context and focus of visit

Trans-Plant Training Limited (TPMT) was inspected in May 2022. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement. The effectiveness of leadership and management, the quality of education and personal development required improvement. Behaviour and attitudes were good.

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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 resolving the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Context and focus of visit

TPMT is based in Exeter. All but seven of the 115 apprentices were studying the goods vehicle (LGV) driver C and E apprenticeship at level 2. These apprentices are employed in haulage companies all over England. Of the other apprentices, two were studying the supply chain warehouse operative at level 2, four were studying the lifting technician apprenticeship at level 2 and one was studying the business administration apprenticeship at level 3.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed effective training plans that apprentices follow when studying the apprenticeship. The plans help to ensure that apprentices receive effective training at the TPMT training centre and at work. Provider staff share the planning in a timely way with apprentices and their employers. As a result, the apprenticeship programmes are fit for purpose and apprentices practise and consolidate their new skills, knowledge and behaviour when training and at work.

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Reasonable progress

Skills officers and tutors take part in productive meetings with employers to identify what apprentices need to learn and do next at work. Staff use detailed information on the progress that apprentices make to plan the on- and off-the-job training. Skills officers and tutors take prompt and effective joint action when apprentices are not making the expected progress in their learning.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have enhanced the internal quality assurance arrangements to ensure that apprentices now receive the planned on- and off-the-job training. They check the quality of the training received by apprentices by conducting a range of activities, such as the scrutiny of work, meeting with skills officers, meeting with employers and attending learning sessions and apprentice reviews. Leaders and Monitoring visit: Trans-Plant Training Limited, 21 and 22 February 2023 managers use this information well to make timely and appropriate improvements to apprentices’ training plans.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have made significant changes to the apprenticeship programme. For example, they have revised the curriculum content and placed a greater focus on the quality of assessment. Apprentices now receive more detailed feedback from tutors, with useful comments on how to improve their work. The majority of apprentices now know how to achieve higher grades at their end of programme exam.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have introduced a standardised approach to providing apprentices with feedback on all aspects of their work. For example, apprentices now receive useful feedback on how to develop further their English and mathematical skills when at work. Consequently, apprentices have an improved understanding of how to prepare for their end of course assessment and know how to improve their performance at work.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have provided skills officers and tutors with relevant and effective professional development, such as training on how to provide apprentices with useful feedback and clear targets so that they continually develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours. As a result of the training, staff provide apprentices with helpful feedback and targets. However, a few staff continue to provide apprentices with targets that are not specific enough to help them to improve. For example, targets focus too much on qualification achievement, rather than on developing apprentices’ wider skills and knowledge.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have introduced a more comprehensive and reliable assessment of apprentices’ starting points. TPMT staff and employers take part in the recruitment, interview and assessment of potential apprentices. Prospective apprentices complete a range of assessment activities, such as driving a large goods vehicle. TPMT staff and employers use the assessment findings to decide which candidates are most suitable to take part in an apprenticeship. Monitoring visit: Trans-Plant Training Limited, 21 and 22 February 2023 Leaders and managers have introduced a new apprentice support programme. This includes providing apprentices with a range of support, such as helping them to deal with experiences that might affect their confidence and motivation. For example, they provide advice when apprentices fail to pass an assessment. As a result, apprentices increase their resilience, and more are staying until the end of their

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Reasonable progress

programme, compared with previous cohorts.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have introduced good-quality work-based projects, which are aligned closely to the apprenticeship requirements and apprentices’ job roles. As a result of completing the projects, apprentices have increased their knowledge, understand the benefits of studying an apprenticeship and know how it might provide them with further opportunities for career development.

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Reasonable progress

Although leaders and managers have made significant changes to the curriculum since the previous inspection, it is too soon to assess the impact on the number of apprentices who stay and complete the apprenticeship in the planned timescales.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have enhanced the process to help those responsible for governance to have a well-informed oversight of the apprenticeship programme. Governors understand how well apprentices are making progress in studying the apprenticeship. They understand the strengths and areas for development at the provider.

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Reasonable progress

Those responsible for governance have a comprehensive knowledge of the sectors that apprentices work in. For example, they understand heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver training and understand what makes an effective delivery of an apprenticeship programme. They provide leaders and managers with the appropriate support, guidance and challenge to help inform improvements.

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Reasonable progress

Those responsible for governance have helped leaders and managers to use key performance data more effectively to inform improvement actions. Monitoring visit: Trans-Plant Training Limited, 21 and 22 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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