Kidz Zone Club Ltd

Kidz Zone Club Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Lynda Brown, His Majesty's Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

5 Leck House 2-4 Lake Street Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire LU7 1TQ Monitoring visit: Kidz Zone, 15 and 16 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

Kidz Zone Club Limited (Kidz Zone) is an independent training provider based in Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire. Kidz Zone was established in 2016 and began teaching apprenticeships in January 2022. Kidz Zone provides breakfast, after school and holiday clubs for schools and nurseries. Kidz Zone also teach apprenticeships to a sister company, The Future Games, that provides physical education services to schools and to eight apprentices who are employed by two external companies.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 29 apprentices studying on apprenticeship standards from level 2 to level 4. Most apprentices were studying level 4 sports coach. A small proportion of apprentices study level 2 community activator coach, level 3 community sport and health officer, level 3 team leader or supervisor and level 3 early years educator.

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Context and focus of visit

There are 10 apprentices studying functional skills mathematics at level 2 and five apprentices studying functional skills English at level 2.

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Significant progress

Leaders have developed a curriculum that meets the needs of the local and regional businesses that they work with. They have selected, in consultation with employers, apprenticeships that improve the skills and knowledge of sports coaches and those providing wraparound care in schools and nurseries.

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Significant progress

Leaders have focused predominantly on sports coaching and introduced further apprenticeships in response to employers’ demands. They have put in place a team leader level 3 qualification to meet the need for community coaches and a level 3 early years educator in response to their work in nurseries. As a result, they have created helpful progression pathways for the apprentices they work with. Monitoring visit: Kidz Zone, 15 and 16 March 2023 Leaders have excellent working relationships with employers. Leaders have planned apprenticeship programmes thoroughly, so that they meet all the requirements of an apprenticeship. Managers and tutors meet frequently with employers to evaluate the curriculum content and to monitor apprentices’ progress.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers have created a vision that prioritises high-quality training for the sector. They have established robust quality improvement processes. Leaders self-assess their performance and review targets frequently. Managers place staff development as a high priority and provide staff with training relevant to their job roles. For example, tutors attend external conferences in early years or study a level 5 teaching qualification. Tutors are highly qualified and have expert knowledge of the sectors that they work.

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Significant progress

Governors challenge leaders skilfully and take an active and valuable part in improving quality. Leaders have recruited governors with experience in education and safeguarding. They are in the process of appointing more governors to strengthen the education and finance expertise.

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Significant progress

Leaders currently subcontract the teaching of functional skills. They monitor the quality carefully, however, they have established detailed plans to teach this as part of their provision.

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Significant progress

Tutors have sequenced the curriculum skilfully, so that apprentices swiftly learn basic skills and knowledge required to fulfil their job roles. Level 4 sports coach apprentices give clear instructions to children in sports sessions and are able to adapt their instructions in different coaching situations.

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Significant progress

Tutors assess apprentices’ knowledge and skills thoroughly at the start of their course. They use this knowledge effectively to plan individualised programmes that meet the needs of apprentices and the organisations in which they work. As a result, apprentices gain substantial new knowledge and skills, which align closely to their workplace responsibilities. For example, in level 3 early years educator, apprentices understand how to identify children’s educational needs in a nursery setting before they apply for an education, health and care plan.

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Significant progress

Tutors identify apprentices with additional learning needs swiftly and provide appropriate support in lessons. As a result, apprentices with special educational needs and/or disabilities participate fully in lessons and make good progress. Monitoring visit: Kidz Zone, 15 and 16 March 2023 Tutors use assessment strategies effectively to check apprentices’ understanding of topics. Apprentices use presentations and assignments to demonstrate their knowledge. Tutors use probing questioning effectively to extend and check apprentices’ understanding. They encourage apprentices to participate in discussions, so that they can apply their knowledge in different situations and share their experiences appropriately with peers.

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Significant progress

Managers have prioritised the development of English and mathematics skills. Apprentices who need qualifications in these subjects attend lessons frequently. In mathematics, tutors use one-to-one lessons expertly to develop apprentices’ understanding of concepts. Apprentices measure areas of simple shapes, then progress to complex shapes before moving on to written mathematical questions, which prepare them thoroughly for their examinations.

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Significant progress

Employers and tutors hold useful joint reviews of apprentices’ progress frequently. As a result, employers highly value the apprenticeship programmes and the contribution that apprentices make to their businesses.

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Significant progress

Leaders have established thorough processes and procedures, which they use effectively to keep apprentices safe at the training centre and in their workplaces. As a result, the culture of safeguarding is very strong throughout the organisation. Leaders have carefully considered the range of safeguarding training that is required and have ensured that all staff are trained appropriately for their job roles.

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Significant progress

Leaders liaise frequently with relevant external bodies to keep their knowledge of local risks up to date. They share this information with tutors and apprentices. As a result, apprentices feel safe and are safe in their employment and their studies. Leaders ensure that apprentices have detailed information on how to report any concerns.

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Significant progress

Staff responsible for recruitment have relevant and up-to-date training. Managers carry out appropriate pre-employment checks, as part of the recruitment procedure to make sure that staff are suitable to work with young people and vulnerable adults. Monitoring visit: Kidz Zone, 15 and 16 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 and child protection.

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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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