Digital Peninsula Network Limited

Digital Peninsula Network Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Christine Lacey, Ofsted Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

1-2 Brewery Yard Penzance TR18 2SL Monitoring visit: Digital Peninsula Network, 15 and 16 June 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

Digital Peninsular Network Limited (DPNL) received its first publicly funded contract for apprenticeship training in July 2021. DPNL is an independent learning provider that offers apprenticeships in the digital sector. At the time of the monitoring visit, DPNL had 21 apprentices in learning. All are studying standards-based apprenticeships in digital marketing, with one apprentice following the level 4 marketing executive standard and 20 following the level 3 digital marketer standard. Apprentices are mostly located in the south west of England. All training and support are provided through online methods. At the time of the monitoring visit, all apprentices were aged 18 or over.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear strategy: to meet the digital skills gap both locally and regionally. They work in partnership with many organisations, networks and employers, building on the prior training experience of DPNL as a subcontractor. They carefully identify the digital skills needs of local and regional businesses and plan curriculums that ensure apprentices develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to work in the digital sector.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have implemented appropriate curriculums that meet the principles and requirements of apprenticeships. They make good use of their experience and knowledge of digital marketing to provide high-quality online training. This supports apprentices to quickly develop the confidence and digital marketing skills they require to work on projects for their employers, such as digital marketing campaigns. Monitoring visit: Digital Peninsula Network, 15 and 16 June 2023 Tutors are well qualified in digital subjects and have the experience they need to teach and assess apprentices. Tutors are well supported by leaders and managers to develop further their technical skills and knowledge.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers make effective checks on the quality of teaching and learning. They observe new tutors every six weeks and more experienced tutors annually. Tutors are well supported by managers to improve their practice through activities such as peer observations and shadowing, which forms part of an individual development plan.

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Reasonable progress

Teams meet monthly to monitor and review the progress that apprentices are making. Managers and tutors know their apprentices and employers well, which helps them to identify where apprentices are not making expected progress. This enables swift intervention by managers and tutors to support apprentices who fall behind in their training.

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Reasonable progress

Board members responsible for governance are clear on their roles and responsibilities. They provide appropriate support and challenge to leaders to improve the quality of apprentices’ training. They recognise the need to strengthen their scrutiny as the numbers of apprentices increase.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have carefully designed and developed curriculums that are sequenced to allow for flexibility to start the apprenticeship throughout the year. Apprentices attend bi-weekly training sessions, which are held online. Programme managers liaise closely with employers to ensure that apprentices’ on- and off-the-job training is well aligned. This ensures that what apprentices are learning in training sessions matches the work they are doing for their employer.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop effective digital marketing skills as a result of the on- and off- the-job training they receive. They benefit from learning through the use of business scenarios, using ‘PESTEL’ (political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal) approaches to consider the wider market place, community needs and social needs. They further develop their understanding of digital environments though attending webinars on topics such as artificial intelligence. Tutors work closely with employers to ensure that they can tailor scenarios for apprentices to match the context of the businesses in which they work. As a result, apprentices are able to practise and apply these new skills through live projects, such as launching social media campaigns. Monitoring visit: Digital Peninsula Network, 15 and 16 June 2023 Leaders have effective systems in place to accurately identify what apprentices

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Reasonable progress

know and can do at the start of their training. Trainers use this information well to ensure that training is closely matched to apprentices’ job roles and existing skills.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors further develop apprentices’ English, mathematics and digital skills through academic writing and training tasks such as coding, search engine optimisation and using statistics on topics including click rates and ‘likes’.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and tutors ensure that apprentices and employers understand the assessment requirements for the assessments at the end of their apprenticeship. They know the grades they can achieve and what they need to do to achieve these. Tutors provide apprentices with effective feedback, both on written work and during online lessons. As a result, apprentices know how to improve and develop the skills they need to be successful in their apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have in place effective policies and procedures to safeguard apprentices. Leaders and staff, including the designated safeguarding lead and deputy, have completed safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training to the appropriate level to be effective in their role.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders follow safe recruitment processes when they recruit staff. They check carefully to ensure that they are suitable to work with apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feels safe. They know how to report safeguarding concerns to the appropriate person. Staff go out of their way to help apprentices and carefully check on their well-being during training sessions and progress reviews.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices know how to stay safe in a digital environment. They learn about online safety at the start of their training, as well as safe working practices. They know how to spot the risks of radicalisation and what signs to look for when working with others online. Monitoring visit: Digital Peninsula Network, 15 and 16 June 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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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 .

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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 .

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

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