CLAAS UK Limited

CLAAS UK Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Christine Leeding, Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection dates: 28 February and 1 March 2023

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Saxham Business Park Little Saxham Bury St Edmunds IP28 6QZ Monitoring visit: CLAAS UK Limited, 28 February and 1 March 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

The CLAAS group is a leading global manufacturer of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combine harvesters and balers. Until 2022, CLAAS UK Limited provided apprenticeships to train service engineering technicians for its products in partnership with a local further education college. In 2022, the provider gained registration to receive public funding for the provision of apprenticeship training and now trains apprentices in purpose-built facilities on the site of its UK head offices.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, the provider was working with 31 apprentices funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. All are enrolled on a four-year programme to achieve the level 3 land-based service engineering technician apprenticeship standard. About half of the apprentices are employed by CLAAS UK Limited at their various depots across England, and the remainder are employed by distributors of the provider’s products. All the apprentices complete their off-the-job training on block release placements at the CLAAS Academy near Bury St Edmunds.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have selected an apprenticeship standard that meets the needs of their employers effectively. They have implemented an effective curriculum through which apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that the requirements of an apprenticeship are met. Apprentices receive sufficient off-the-job training time. Their prior learning is assessed. Those needing to gain qualifications in English and mathematics are appropriately supported in doing so. Employers support their apprentices well in the Monitoring visit: CLAAS UK Limited, 28 February and 1 March 2023 workplace and plan activities to reinforce the knowledge and skills gained during block release. Apprentices and employers are fully informed about end-point assessment arrangements early in the apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

The classrooms, workshops and equipment provided for apprentices are outstanding. Apprentices have access to a wide range of agricultural machinery on which to develop their skills. They access a test track on which they learn to safely drive agricultural vehicles.

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Reasonable progress

Appropriate contractual arrangements are in place for the small amount of sub- contracted functional skills provision. To date, the few apprentices needing to obtain qualifications have successfully achieved them. Leaders have not yet implemented comprehensive monitoring arrangements of the quality of this provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have self-assessed comprehensively against the themes for the monitoring visit, and the strengths and areas for development they identified align closely with the inspector’s findings. However, the inspector identified additional areas for development, such as the need for a more extensive coverage of personal development in the curriculum. Leaders and managers are developing their quality assurance processes for teaching, learning and assessment. They have not identified that records of progress reviews are not always completed comprehensively.

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Reasonable progress

Governors have a strong oversight of safeguarding and health and safety arrangements for apprentices. However, governors have yet to identify and challenge leaders on the limited development of apprentices’ understanding of British values and the dangers of radicalisation and extremism.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that the programme is well sequenced to build apprentices’ knowledge and skills over time. Apprentices begin by learning about the fundamentals of engines, hydraulics and electrics. They revisit and develop these themes over time to secure their understanding.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers have high levels of technical skills. They use these well to provide apprentices with high-quality training. They design tasks to extend and retain knowledge taught previously. For example, having studied the different features of circuits the previous day, each apprentice explained a different circuit to their peers.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers explain concepts clearly. They use questioning effectively to check and extend the understanding of apprentices. For example, one trainer asked apprentices Monitoring visit: CLAAS UK Limited, 28 February and 1 March 2023 about different types of switches and why a combine harvester has an external switch.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices learn substantial new knowledge quickly, which employers value. Apprentices learn how to complete risk assessments before starting new tasks. They learn about pre-delivery inspections, how to service tractors and combine harvesters, and how to maintain engines.

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Reasonable progress

On- and off-the-job training is coordinated effectively to ensure that apprentices use their new skills in a timely manner. After each training block, trainers complete a review with apprentices and their supervisors. They discuss what the apprentices have learned. Supervisors set tasks for apprentices to practise so that they improve their confidence and competence in using these skills. For example, one apprentice described how, after completing training on engines, their supervisor set a task to reset the tappets on an engine.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices produce work of an appropriate standard. The work of most apprentices improves over time. Their work becomes more analytical, with more detailed application to their workplace. Recent feedback to apprentices is detailed and clearly identifies areas for improvement.

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Reasonable progress

The recording of apprentices’ reviews is too variable. Consequently, it is unclear how tutors are reviewing progress against knowledge, skills and behaviours and setting appropriate targets to improve these.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and governors are developing a positive culture of safeguarding. They are vigilant in ensuring the safety of apprentices in residential accommodation when attending block placements. Leaders and trainers ensure that effective health and safety arrangements are in operation when apprentices train in workshops and drive agricultural machinery. Leaders ensure that effective safeguarding processes are in place.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices and their parents and guardians are aware of safeguarding arrangements before apprentices’ first stay in residential accommodation. Trainers teach apprentices about the dangers of radicalisation and extremism early in the programme. However, they do not further develop these topics. As a result, apprentices are unaware of specific concerns in their workplaces and local contexts.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe at work, in their accommodation and during training. Trainers check on their well-being during reviews and daily when staying in accommodation. Monitoring visit: CLAAS UK Limited, 28 February and 1 March 2023 Apprentices know they can report concerns to their trainers, who are safeguarding officers. Monitoring visit: CLAAS UK Limited, 28 February and 1 March 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

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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