The Training Place Of Excellence Limited

The Training Place Of Excellence Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Paul Manning, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 12 Carlton Cottages New Cross Road London SE14 5BE Monitoring visit: The Training Place of Excellence Limited, 14 and 15 June 2023

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Context and focus of visit

The Training Place of Excellence Limited (TTP) was inspected in May 2022. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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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.

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Context and focus of visit

Apprentices and trainees complete their training at the head office in south London.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the inspection, there were 68 apprentices on the level 2 accounts and finance assistant standard, six apprentices on the level 3 assistant accountant standard and another 10 apprentices on the level 4 professional accounting or taxation technician standard. There were five learners aged 16 to 18 on traineeships.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have improved the professional development (CPD) opportunities for teaching staff. For example, leaders have taught recently recruited tutors to use questions and activities to check apprentices’ understanding appropriately. Tutors who do not hold teaching qualifications have started to work towards achieving these. Leaders give tutors time to attend frequent industry related CPD opportunities and to watch their peers teach to improve their practice.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders check the quality of tutors’ teaching and assessment thoroughly. They observe teaching staff and give tutors clear feedback on how to improve. They train tutors to improve any areas of weakness. For example, they teach tutors how to present information clearly and check all apprentices’ understanding. As a result, tutors feel well supported and make necessary improvements.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have trained staff to use effective assessment methods to check what apprentices know about accounting when they apply for their apprenticeship. Tutors use this information to adapt their teaching to meet the needs of individuals. For example, where staff identify that apprentices speak English as an additional Monitoring visit: The Training Place of Excellence Limited, 14 and 15 June 2023 language, tutors set questions using simple English so that apprentices can access and answer questions correctly.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have trained newly recruited tutors to adapt the curriculum to meet apprentices’ needs effectively. For example, tutors spend less time teaching topics that most apprentices do every day, such as financial accounting. They thoughtfully spend additional time on areas that are less familiar to apprentices such as management accounting. Where appropriate, tutors provide access to additional online resources which help apprentices to gain a thorough understanding of what they are taught.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have been successful in recruiting a governance board that has most of the necessary skills and experience to hold senior leaders to account. For example, governors have suitable expertise in education, safeguarding and leadership. However, leaders would benefit from a board with greater expertise in apprenticeship training to provide additional support and challenge to leaders in their provision of high-quality apprenticeship training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and governors have taken effective actions to rectify the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. They reacted quickly through the creation of an action plan and improvement targets. Governors are well informed about the provider’s strengths and most of the areas for development. Leaders provide governors with verbal progress updates against actions at their quarterly meetings and governors undertake visits to check on progress first hand.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders do not provide sufficiently detailed information in advance of meetings so that governors can prepare suitably challenging questions. Leaders also do not ensure that all areas for development are discussed frequently enough. For example, leaders do not share in sufficient detail with governors information about apprentices’ retention and outcomes. As a result, governors are not able to challenge leaders adequately on these topics.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have put in place effective processes to improve attendance. For example, they have created a code of conduct that sets Monitoring visit: The Training Place of Excellence Limited, 14 and 15 June 2023 clear expectations of attendance which is agreed upon and signed by apprentices at induction. Leaders respond rapidly to non-attendance. Staff contact apprentices within an hour of them not attending and notify their employer. As a result, apprentices recognise the importance of high attendance and understand the consequence of not attending. Attendance has improved and is currently above TTP’s target for all classes.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders provide effective support to apprentices who are unable to attend. For example, staff give apprentices access to the knowledge taught in the missed lesson as well as helpful video sessions on the virtual learning platform to help them to catch up. Tutors provide additional one-to-one support sessions when needed and respond rapidly to emailed questions from apprentices. As a result, apprentices feel well supported and most are on track to achieve.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have taken suitable actions to improve the retention and achievement of apprentices. For example, during the enrolment process, they check thoroughly apprentices’ commitment to the apprenticeship. Leaders have reverted to face-to- face teaching, and they undertake frequent monitoring of apprentices’ attendance and progress. Leaders have taken effective actions to ensure that apprentices are better informed about and prepared for their final assessment. As a result, retention and outcomes have improved. However, they are not yet strong.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have developed their curriculum to teach apprentices about life in modern Britain. Tutors teach apprentices about the risks of radicalisation and extremism as well as topics such as social inclusion and sexual harassment. Tutors hold frequent discussions in lessons about key news stories and set apprentices activities using helpful videos and case studies that help apprentices to learn about societal issues that might affect them.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors ensure that apprentices understand how British Values relate to their jobs. For example, they teach apprentices about how the rule of law applies to money laundering. They teach apprentices why it is important to check any unusually large transfers of money, as well as where payments are coming from and going to. As a result, apprentices feel confident to identify and report any concerns to their managers. Apprentices can explain the importance of general data protection regulations, how to keep clients’ information safe and how to adhere to professional ethical standards. Monitoring visit: The Training Place of Excellence Limited, 14 and 15 June 2023 Leaders provide apprentices with useful careers information, advice and guidance. Starting before they enrol, staff make clear to apprentices the range of next steps available to them in work or study at the end of their apprenticeship. Tutors have

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Reasonable progress

high levels of knowledge about the accountancy sector and teach apprentices about the different roles available, such as insolvency accounting, chartered accounting and management accounting. Leaders offer apprentices suitable professional development opportunities. For example, in addition to their standard, staff teach most level 2 apprentices how to use industry-standard accounting software. Staff also encourage apprentices to subscribe to the Association of Accounting Technicians membership, which provides apprentices with additional professional development opportunities.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders do not provide sufficient opportunities for apprentices to explore their interests and talents beyond that of their vocational qualification. As a result, apprentices have limited opportunities to enjoy new hobbies or interests, or to become aware of and involved in activities that contribute to their local communities. Monitoring visit: The Training Place of Excellence Limited, 14 and 15 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

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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

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