Channel Training Limited

Channel Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Sara Hunter, Ofsted Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Channel Training Limited The Adventure Centre Warren Road Minehead TA24 5BG Monitoring visit: Channel Training Limited, 1 and 2 March 2023

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Context and focus of visit

From October 2018, Ofsted undertook to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision which began to be funded from April 2017 or after 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

Channel Training Ltd is an independent training provider based in Minehead, Somerset. It began training apprentices in the outdoor learning sector in 2012 as a subcontractor. It began training apprentices as a directly funded provider in January 2022.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, eight apprentices were studying the community activator coach apprenticeship at level 2, 73 apprentices were studying the outdoor activity instructor at level 3, and two apprentices were studying outdoor learning specialist at level 5. Apprentices were employed at outdoor activity centres throughout England.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that the education and training they provide meet the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are highly committed to improving individuals’ physical and mental well-being through outdoor learning. They have implemented a well-designed curriculum that ensures apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours to support their clients in outdoor learning centres.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders establish productive relationships with employers. They liaise effectively to plan programmes that enable apprentices to become more effective at work and develop their employability skills and opportunities. For example, apprentices who Monitoring visit: Channel Training Limited, 1 and 2 March 2023 support A-level students in the ‘Field Studies Council’ undertake the level 3 award in education and training.

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Reasonable progress

Employers understand what constitutes off-the-job training, and apprentices receive their full entitlement. This includes access to additional courses and qualifications, which helps to prepare apprentices for their next stage in training and employment. For example, apprentices can gain qualifications in outdoor first aid and paddlesport instruction.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders carefully recruit tutors with specialist expertise in outdoor learning. Leaders ensure that tutors maintain their professional skills and qualifications through taking part in regular professional and personal development activities. Qualified teachers are appointed by leaders. Teachers adapt the curriculum well to support apprentices with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices understand the seasonal nature of their work. Throughout their training, tutors inform apprentices of alternative careers where their highly transferable skills are relevant. For example, alternative careers include the uniformed public services, youth work, or working in other education settings.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recognise that quality assurance processes are not sufficiently formalised or effective. Consequently, leaders cannot be confident that the quality of all aspects of their provision is consistently strong across the whole organisation.

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Reasonable progress

The governance arrangements are currently effective. However, these arrangements are not systematic, and leaders recognise rightly the need to strengthen the external scrutiny of the provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders involve all staff in the assessment of the quality of education and training. This results in a detailed quality improvement plan. However, this assessment process requires further development to ensure that every aspect of the provision is included so that leaders can be assured that all apprentices receive the same high- quality training experience.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors plan training and assessment for apprentices in a logical sequence and collaborate well with employers to coordinate its implementation. This ensures that apprentices rapidly gain the skills they need to prepare and deliver effective sessions safely for clients.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors assess what apprentices know and can do at the start of their apprenticeship by using a 'score card'. However, too often, tutors do not use the results of this Monitoring visit: Channel Training Limited, 1 and 2 March 2023 detailed assessment effectively enough to plan apprentices’ training programmes. As a result, a few apprentices are not challenged sufficiently by the training.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices who require functional skills English and mathematics receive good support from a well-qualified specialist tutor. The tutor uses meaningful examples to engage apprentices and help them to learn. For example, an apprentice who dives as a hobby is helped to understand key mathematical concepts by using diving compression tables.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors monitor apprentices’ progress closely, and they provide good support to any whose progress slows. This enables them to get back on track. Tutors set apprentices realistic targets at review meetings. However, on too many occasions, tutors’ targets are limited to completing tasks, and they do not clearly specify appropriate wider aspects of the apprentices’ knowledge and skills development.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices’ written work is of the required standard. They receive constructive feedback from tutors, such as how they can improve their grammar and punctuation and how and where to further deepen their analysis of subjects. However, while apprentices who do not attend functional skills classes improve their written and verbal communication, a small minority are not supported sufficiently well to improve their mathematical skills over time.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices and employers are fully aware of the assessment requirements at the end of the apprenticeship. Tutors prepare apprentices very well for these by using mock assessments and by taking part in professional discussions. Apprentices are motivated to do well, and the vast majority aim to achieve a distinction grade.

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Significant progress

Leaders have established comprehensive safeguarding arrangements to ensure that apprentices and clients remain safe in outdoor learning activities. Apprentices are well trained in how to manage sensitive situations with clients. For example, apprentices are taught how to check that harnesses are fitted correctly without touching clients.

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Significant progress

Leaders have high expectations of the employers they work with. Leaders take the health, safety and well-being of apprentices very seriously and are diligent in ensuring that employers are rigorous in their approach to safeguarding and health and safety.

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Significant progress

Apprentices understand and respect equality and diversity. They treat colleagues and clients with different cultural and religious beliefs with high levels of respect. Monitoring visit: Channel Training Limited, 1 and 2 March 2023 Apprentices feel safe in their workplace and are confident to report any concerns about their own or the safety of others. They understand the rules on confidentiality and know how to manage risk in the event of a safeguarding disclosure.

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Significant progress

Apprentices receive appropriate training in ‘Prevent’ duty, and most have a basic understanding of the dangers of and risks associated with radicalisation and extremism. However, tutors do not routinely revisit these themes with apprentices or relate them to their workplaces or areas they live. Therefore, apprentices’ knowledge declines over time. Monitoring visit: Channel Training Limited, 1 and 2 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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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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

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