Semester Learning and Development Limited

Semester: Learning and Development Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Clifford Shaw, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address: 5 Howells Road Dunvant Swansea SA2 7SX Monitoring visit: Semester Learning and Development Limited, 11 and 12 May 2023

p.1

Context and focus of visit

Semester Learning and Development Limited was inspected in July 2022. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement. Semester offers engineering and protective services apprenticeships throughout England in engineering technician, engineering operative, business fire safety adviser, compressed air and vacuum technician, drinks dispense technician, fire emergency and security systems technician, engineering fitter, safety, health and environment technician and fire safety inspector. At the time of the monitoring visit, Semester had 55 apprentices, of which 15 were younger apprentices.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in resolving the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders have been too slow to take action to improve the planning of apprentices’ training. Assessors do not link training topics well enough to apprentices’ job roles. They do not plan training so that apprentices can revisit and consolidate knowledge, skills and behaviours. As a result, too many apprentices cannot recall important knowledge.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders have not taken effective actions to help younger apprentices develop the skills they need to make progress at the pace expected of them. Apprentices do not make use of the online resources put in place by leaders to help them to learn. Consequently, too few apprentices develop the skills they need to study effectively.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders do not plan well enough the timing of training sessions to ensure that apprentices are able to attend online workshops and seminars. Too few apprentices attend these workshops, and, as a result, they miss important opportunities to extend their knowledge. Leaders have plans to improve the scheduling of online training and workshops. However, this revised programme has not yet started.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders do not provide assessors with the professional development they need to improve the planning of apprentices’ training. As a result, the small number of initiatives which leaders have taken to improve the quality of training have not Monitoring visit: Semester Learning and Development Limited, 11 and 12 May 2023 translated into an improved experience for apprentices. Too often the training experience of apprentices remains poor.

p.2

Insufficient progress

Leaders have taken steps to improve the assessment of apprentices’ abilities at the start of their apprenticeship. They now accurately identify the digital skills and learning support needs of younger apprentices. As a result, this information is used by assessors and employers to better support those apprentices who are new to their programmes.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Leaders have made sensible changes to the way that assessors review apprentices’ progress. However, assessors do not use the revised process effectively enough. As a result, the vast majority of apprentices do not receive developmental feedback about how to improve and make progress towards their training goals.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Assessors do not use effective techniques in progress reviews with apprentices to explore what they know and can do. Assessors agree targets with apprentices which focus on unit completion and the logging of their off-the-job training hours. However, too often assessors cover important topics only superficially and fail to have meaningful or useful discussions with apprentices beyond rudimentary responses to questions. Consequently, assessors miss opportunities to ensure that apprentices deepen their knowledge.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Leaders do not provide apprentices with broad and impartial careers advice and guidance. Leaders have redesigned the documents assessors use to review apprentices’ progress to focus more clearly on careers advice and guidance. However, assessors’ discussions with apprentices remain ineffective and are mostly superficial. Assessors do not link career topics well enough to apprentices’ job roles, the skills they are developing or their wider personal interests.

p.3

Insufficient progress

Assessors do not prioritise careers guidance for their apprentices. Although apprentices recognise that careers guidance is mentioned by assessors at the start of their apprenticeship, they receive too little further information or opportunity to discuss their ambitions. As a result, too many apprentices are not clear about their next steps. Monitoring visit: Semester Learning and Development Limited, 11 and 12 May 2023

p.3

Insufficient progress

Leaders have not taken swift or effective action to ensure that apprentices understand important wider safeguarding themes. Assessors do not plan the training well enough to ensure that apprentices engage actively with content around life in modern Britain. Assessors do not contextualise curriculum content to apprentices’ job role or workplace. For example, tutors lead discussions around the signs and dangers of extremism, but they do not link it to the industries in which apprentices work or their personal circumstances. As a result, too few apprentices have an effective understanding of these topics. Monitoring visit: Semester Learning and Development Limited, 11 and 12 May 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

p.4

Insufficient progress

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.5

Insufficient 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

Insufficient 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

Insufficient progress

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

p.5

Insufficient progress

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

p.5