Castle View Group Training Limited

Castle View Training Group Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Joanne Stork, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

4-5 Lumley Court Drum Industrial Estate Chester-le-Street County Durham DH2 1AN Monitoring visit: Castle View Training Limited, 30 and 31 March 2023

p.1

Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of adult learning provision where the provision offered is in scope for inspection. 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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Castle View Training Group Limited is an independent learning provider based in Chester-le-Street in County Durham. It began delivering adult training funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority in August 2021. At the time of the inspection, there were seven learners on a short programme studying towards a level 1 award in introduction to the facilities industry. The provider also offers a level 2 certificate in understanding climate change and environmental awareness. Since August 2022, 77 learners have completed courses.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers work in partnership with the Tees Valley Combined Authority to provide courses that help local residents, some of whom are far from the labour market, to move towards positive employment outcomes. They work closely with Jobcentre Plus to identify and recruit suitable candidates. A partnerships manager visits local job centres to provide information on specific job roles and share key recruitment dates.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers work well with employers to understand their skills needs. They design programmes that develop the transferable skills that employers require and that are suited to a range of different roles. Learners on the level 1 award in introduction to the facilities industry develop knowledge and skills in topics covering workplace hygiene and customer service that they can apply to roles such as warehouse operative, barista and multi-drop delivery driver. Leaders and managers plan the delivery of their courses to match employers’ recruitment schedules. This ensures that, on completion of their course, learners can move quickly to interviews and in many cases into employment.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have appointed tutors who are suitably qualified. Tutors have qualifications in relevant subjects and have appropriate teaching qualifications. Leaders and managers carry out lesson visits to check the quality of delivery. Monitoring visit: Castle View Training Limited, 30 and 31 March 2023 However, the feedback that they give following these visits is not sufficiently developmental or specific enough to help staff improve their teaching practice.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers record learners’ progression to employment to measure the impact of the courses that they provide. However, they do not follow up closely enough with learners to check if the employment is sustained.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Through participating in the curriculum, most learners gain basic knowledge and skills about environmental and sustainability issues, and health and safety, which equips them well for job interviews. Leaders and managers ensure that learners have access to a range of support to help them progress to work. An employment support coach provides one-to-one meetings, and learners benefit from support through online sessions to develop their interview skills and produce curriculum vitae. Learners increase their confidence, and if they are successful in gaining employment, the knowledge that they have acquired helps them settle into work and increases their chances of remaining employed.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Learners behave well and participate enthusiastically in learning activities. For example, in introduction to the facilities industry lessons, tutors plan a range of learning activities, including practical tasks, which learners engage in well. After learning about safe lifting techniques, learners undertake a practical lifting activity. Tutors provide learners with effective verbal feedback and guidance which helps them to identify and use correct techniques to avoid potential injury.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Although staff gather information about learners’ prior experience and qualifications when they apply for the course, this is not used well enough to identify starting points or to adapt the curriculum to meet learners’ specific needs. All learners complete course workbooks to meet the assessment criteria in the same sequence and, in a few cases, learners’ answers are the same.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have selected qualifications that require learners to spend a significant amount of course time completing evidence to meet the criteria. This means that learners’ answers are often short responses, and there is not sufficient time to develop and deepen learners’ understanding of the topics. Monitoring visit: Castle View Training Limited, 30 and 31 March 2023

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have in place suitable policies and procedures to safeguard learners. They conduct appropriate pre-employment checks to assure themselves that staff are suitable to work with vulnerable adults. Staff record any concerns carefully and report them to the designated safeguarding lead (DSL). The DSL or the deputy deal with concerns promptly and refer to other agencies where necessary.

p.4

Reasonable progress

The DSL and the deputy have appropriate qualifications and experience to carry out their roles. They receive frequent information on local and national risks from the regional ‘Prevent’ duty coordinator. The DSL ensures that tutors receive relevant and up-to-date information and training on safeguarding issues.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Tutors effectively plan activities and discussions that increase learners’ awareness of how to recognise and protect themselves from the risks of radicalisation. Learners gain knowledge about the dangers to individuals and wider society from people with extremist views. Monitoring visit: Castle View Training Limited, 30 and 31 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.

p.4

Reasonable progress

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

Reasonable progress

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Reasonable progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5