First Intuition Maidstone Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of First Intuition Maidstone Limited

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Inspection dates: 28 February to 3 March 2023

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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Information about this provider

First Intuition Maidstone Limited (FI Maidstone) is an independent learning provider that is part of the wider First Intuition Group. The Maidstone centre started providing private training courses to the finance and accounting sector in 2011. It gained approval to provide publicly funded apprenticeships in January 2019 and now offers apprenticeships alongside its commercial training courses.

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Information about this provider

At the time of the inspection, FI Maidstone had 178 apprentices, most of whom were training on a range of accountancy apprenticeship standards from level 2 to level 7. Almost all apprentices are over the age of 19. Approximately 100 apprentices study the level 7 accountancy taxation professional apprenticeship, 15 were studying level 4 professional accounting taxation technician, 40 were studying level 3 assistant accountant, and 11 were studying level 2 accounts or finance assistant apprenticeships. The remaining eight apprentices were studying one of two related management apprenticeships, the level 3 team leader or the level 5 operations and departmental manager.

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Information about this provider

The provider works with one subcontractor, First Intuition (London) Limited. 28 February to 3 March 2023

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

Apprentices are positive about their learning and highly motivated to achieve. Apprentices develop new knowledge and skills swiftly, which they apply in the workplace confidently. Level 7 accountants can identify financial risks and use this information to make recommendations to clients. Level 5 management apprentices use their new people management skills to support staff going through major change projects at work. Apprentices become more confident, competent and better at their jobs as a result.

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

Apprentices engage enthusiastically in a wide range of social action projects that extend beyond their apprenticeships. They completed a ‘swimathon’ to raise funds for cancer research, held a ‘sleep-out’ to raise awareness for homelessness charities and served lunch in a community centre. As a result, apprentices quickly become valued members of their local community and contribute positively to employers’ corporate social responsibility activities.

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

Leaders and managers provide apprentices with comprehensive information regarding next steps and alternative pathways in the finance sector, such as forensic accountancy or taxation. Apprentices are clear about how their apprenticeship fits with their career plans and fluently describe how they can develop their career in their workplaces.

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

Most apprentices make good progress and achieve their apprenticeship. However, a significant minority of learners on level 7 apprenticeships are making slower than expected progress because they do not pass professional qualification examinations quickly. Leaders have put in place helpful action plans that include additional workshops, rebooking of modules and revision courses for resit papers. It is too early to see the impact of these actions.

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

Almost all apprentices remain with their employer at the end of their apprenticeship. Many progress to further studies or gain promotions because of their training.

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

Apprentices know how to keep themselves, colleagues, clients and clients’ assets safe. They talk confidently about money laundering legislation and the importance of ethical accounting. They do not tolerate bullying in the workplace. They are vigilant about signs of extremism and know how to report concerns.

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better?

Leaders and managers use their industry expertise well to meet the needs of employers in the finance and accounting sector successfully. They work closely with employers to promote the level 3 assistant accountant apprenticeship to school leavers, many of whom would otherwise not have considered a career in finance. Leaders have introduced helpful apprenticeships in leadership and management to meet the needs of finance professionals who move into managerial roles. Staff teach 28 February to 3 March 2023

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the level 7 accountancy professional apprenticeship, which enables employers to attract and retain local talent in a highly competitive market.

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Leaders have a clear commitment to widening participation routes into the profession. They have introduced a level 2 finance assistant apprenticeship for younger learners who do not yet have the skills or qualifications to enter the level 3 programme. Leaders have opened a new satellite centre in Canterbury to help learners who are unable to travel.

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Leaders and managers have planned a logical curriculum that builds the knowledge, skills and behaviours of apprentices effectively. Level 3 assistant accountants, most of whom are new to the industry, learn business awareness and team-working skills alongside units on financial accounting. Level 4 accounting technicians learn to draft and interpret financial statements before studying specialist units in auditing. As a result, apprentices use these skills in their jobs quickly and so add value to their businesses.

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Leaders and managers engage well with employers to plan on- and off-the-job training. Where job roles need specialist taxation modules not taught by FI Maidstone, leaders work highly effectively with a subcontracted partner to integrate these seamlessly into apprentices’ learning plans.

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Employers greatly value the positive working relationships they have with FI Maidstone staff. Employers receive frequent, helpful reports and progress updates. Line managers attend all reviews to discuss apprentices’ progress with coaches. As a result, most employers are clear about the progress their apprentice is making and know well how to support them in the workplace. However, a small number of employers are not well informed about apprentices’ training and assessment plans. As a result, they feel less confident about how to provide support in the final stages of the apprenticeship.

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Apprentices benefit from good-quality training. Highly qualified tutors use their industry experience well to bring learning to life in teaching sessions. For example, tutors use case studies when teaching about depreciating assets and value-added tax, which helps apprentices to understand core financial principles. Most tutors make effective use of quizzes, directed questioning and scenarios, which helps apprentices learn and recall effectively. Tutors adapt teaching and assessments well to accommodate the needs of apprentices with additional learning needs. As a result, apprentices with additional needs such as dyslexia or exam anxiety achieve their qualifications in line with their peers.

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Leaders and managers capture apprentices’ initial starting points well. They undertake robust assessments that establish apprentices’ prior knowledge through helpful skills scans. In most cases, staff use this information carefully to plan individual support and to tailor apprentices’ programmes. However, in a few cases on the level 7 apprenticeship, tutors and coaches do not use these assessments effectively to prioritise missing skills, such as problem-solving. Consequently, these 28 February to 3 March 2023

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apprentices do not have learning plans that prioritise knowledge gaps and do not progress as swiftly as they could.

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Leaders monitor the quality of teaching and learning robustly through a supportive, developmental cycle of teaching observations, sampling and standardisation activities. Where leaders identify that staff do not consistently meet the expected standards, they provide tailored support, such as peer mentoring or additional training. As a result, most staff make rapid improvements in their teaching practice.

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Tutors and coaches ensure that apprentices develop their confidence and resilience well. They teach apprentices how to present information and how to understand effective time management, so they are well prepared to deal with the stresses that they may face during their day-to-day work. As a result, learners are well prepared to take on more responsibility as their roles progress. For example, level 2 apprentices gain confidence and new skills in using accounting software. Level 7 accounting apprentices prepare reports on acquisitions and audit risks, which they present confidently to clients.

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Apprentices demonstrate British values well. They understand relevant legislation, such as data protection and tax law, which they apply rigorously in their workplaces and evidence through their written work. They describe the importance of mutual respect and tolerance confidently, including respect for the views of others where these may differ from their own.

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Senior leaders work closely with the non-executive director to oversee the quality of training effectively. Leaders benefit from close collaborative working with other members of the First Intuition national network, which enables them to monitor the quality of education with a network of specialist finance and accountancy providers. Leaders have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their provision. They monitor apprenticeship data closely. Where they identify areas for improvement, leaders act swiftly to put in place helpful action plans, which they monitor effectively. For example, they identified a decrease in apprentices being on target because of more first-time fails and put on additional workshops to arrest this decline. As a result, more apprentices are now passing their papers at the first attempt.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have put in place effective policies and procedures that help keep apprentices safe in training and in the workplace. Leaders ensure that the staff they appoint are safe to work with apprentices. All staff have received appropriate safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training. The well-trained safeguarding team provides helpful monthly briefings on contemporary topics, such as exam anxiety, online safety and workplace bullying. As a result, staff feel confident to incorporate these topics into their teaching. 28 February to 3 March 2023

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Apprentices feel safe. They know whom to contact to raise concerns about safeguarding or their welfare. Apprentices understand well the dangers of clicking links in emails from recipients they do not know and feel confident to identify and report sexual harassment without fear.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Leaders and managers must improve the number of level 7 apprentices who complete their apprenticeship within their original planned end-date.  Leaders and managers should ensure that all employers are suitably informed to support apprentices appropriately in the workplace.  Leaders and managers should ensure that staff use information gathered about apprentices at the start of their programme to tailor learning plans to close gaps in knowledge quickly. 28 February to 3 March 2023

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Provider details

Address 89 King Street Maidstone ME14 1BG

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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 First Intuition (London) Limited 28 February to 3 March 2023

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the head of apprenticeships, 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

Viki Faulkner, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Jo-Ann Henderson His Majesty’s Inspector Akhil Amlani Ofsted Inspector Alun Maddocks Ofsted Inspector 28 February to 3 March 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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