North Wales Training Ltd.

Further education and skills inspection report

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

North Wales Training Ltd (NWT) is an independent learning provider that provides education and training programmes across Wales. In 2019, NWT were accepted onto the register of apprenticeship training providers to offer apprenticeships in England. NWT began providing non-levy and levy-funded apprenticeships in March 2021.

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Information about this provider

There are currently 31 apprentices enrolled. At the time of the inspection, there were no apprentices who had yet completed their apprenticeship or taken their final assessment. There are 17 apprentices enrolled on the level 2 bricklaying apprenticeship, six on the level 3 leisure duty manager, four on the level 3 personal trainer and four on the level 3 team leader apprenticeships. NWT work with approximately 17 bricklaying employers and one large leisure trust across the North West and South West of England. 3 to 5 July 2023

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices enjoy their apprenticeship and quickly develop new knowledge and skills which they use to make an effective contribution at work. Level 3 personal trainer apprentices advise clients on a healthy diet that enables them to exercise for longer as the body is refuelled with the nutrients it requires.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Most apprentices have a positive attitude to learning. They benefit from and value the training and mentoring they receive from their tutors, mentors, and employers. Apprentices on the bricklaying level 2 apprenticeship learn a wider range of topics which extends their knowledge and skills. For example, they learn about topics such as healthy eating, personal finance and mental health awareness.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices develop their confidence throughout their apprenticeship. Level 3 leisure duty manager apprentices communicate with customers effectively. They put appropriate processes in place to ensure the smooth running of the leisure centre.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Most apprentices complete additional qualifications as part of their apprenticeship. Level 2 bricklaying apprentices complete qualifications in health and safety and risk assessment. This helps them to gain additional skills for future employment on building sites.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices feel safe and know how to keep themselves safe. They have a good understanding of the risks of working online. Not all apprentices have a good understanding of radicalisation and extremism or how it applies to them in their personal lives and while at work.

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better?

Senior leaders have high expectations for their staff and apprentices to achieve. Leaders put in place effective actions to improve the areas identified as needing improvement at the most recent monitoring visit. For example, the quality of feedback that most apprentices now receive to improve their work is of a good standard. Leaders carefully monitor the progress that individual apprentices make, including their progress against achieving high grades.

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better?

Leaders and managers have a clear strategy for the curriculums that they offer. They design curriculums to respond to the identified national skills gaps in the construction and, leisure and fitness sectors. Leaders provide opportunities for disaffected learners who previously have not engaged in education or training or who had poor attendance while at school.

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better?

Leaders ensure that they select staff who are well qualified and have relevant industry experience. Staff benefit from professional development to help them improve their teaching practice. For instance, tutors have had training on how to plan and sequence learning effectively which means apprentices develop their skills and knowledge incrementally over time. 3 to 5 July 2023

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Tutors sequence and teach the curriculum in a coherent way. For instance, level 3 leisure duty manager apprentices learn about the principles of different leadership styles. They then move on to how to apply this knowledge when managing people before learning more complex topics such as law and how this contributes to the decisions they need to make in their role.

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Tutors liaise with most employers to coordinate apprentices on- and off-the-job training effectively, this helps them to apply their learning in work. Level 3 personal trainer apprentices become competent to provide small fitness classes covering cardiovascular and weight training. Level 3 leisure duty manager apprentices make useful suggestions to improve the running of the centre.

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Tutors assess apprentices’ starting points, including in English and mathematics at the start of their apprenticeship. They use this information to design an individualised curriculum that considers what they already know and can do and prioritise what knowledge and skills they need to learn. As a result, most apprentices make at least their expected progress on their apprenticeship.

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Tutors ensure that apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours during their apprenticeship through effective teaching and learning strategies. For example, level 3 personal trainer apprentices can advise customers how to lift free weights safely. They understand how muscles are affected by different training methods. Level 2 bricklaying apprentices can explain how using plasticiser helps to prevent mortar from crumbling. They build walls safely using the correct mix, level, gauge and measurements required by their employer.

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Most tutors ensure that employers understand the progress that their apprentices make. They make them aware of any gaps in learning and discuss any training or support needs that the apprentice may require. Employers value the training that their apprentices receive and how it enables them to contribute to the work of their team by becoming multi-skilled and able to take on more varied tasks.

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Level 2 bricklaying apprentices benefit from effective one-to-one support from functional skills tutors. This helps them to develop their mathematical and English skills. They develop the technical vocabulary that they need for work and use mathematical concepts to mix the correct ratios of sand and cement to produce an effective mortar consistency.

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Tutors provide developmental feedback to apprentices during their training so that they know what they have done well and what they need to do to improve. Tutors ensure they prepare apprentices well for their final assessment. They provide practice assessments to enable apprentices to understand the criteria they need to meet to achieve their highest grade.

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Tutors who teach the level 3 personal trainer and leisure duty manager apprenticeship do not ensure that apprentices are taught the wider skills they need to be independent learners at the start of the apprenticeship. Consequently, they do 3 to 5 July 2023

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not quickly develop their confidence in producing written work and presenting their work electronically.

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Senior leaders have had difficulty finding access to bricklaying workshops and a new tutor in brickwork when the previous arrangements ceased. This means that apprentices have not had access to practical skills training in recent weeks. However, senior leaders have put appropriate actions in place and new facilities and staff have now been sourced.

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Leaders do not ensure that all apprentices benefit from impartial advice on the wider options available to them, including further study when they complete their apprenticeship.

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Members of the advisory board have the necessary expertise of the education sector and apprenticeships. Senior leaders provide them with a range of information to enable them to provide effective support and challenge. For example, they challenge leaders on the changes to the curriculums to ensure it meets employer and regional needs. Governors have accurately identified that the self-assessment and associated improvement plan lack rigour.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders complete a range of appropriate checks when appointing new staff. All staff, including the designated safeguarding lead and deputy, receive appropriate training on safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Managers record any safeguarding concerns accurately and take appropriate action to resolve them.

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Safeguarding

Leaders ensure that apprentices are made aware of the dangers associated with online learning. As a result, apprentices know how to keep safe online and the importance of not responding to suspicious emails.

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Safeguarding

Staff ensure that apprentices follow the correct health and safety procedures for their industry. For example, sport apprentices plan appropriate activities for their clients which consider their individual fitness levels and age group.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Leaders should ensure that tutors on level 3 leisure duty manager and level 3 personal trainer apprenticeships teach the wider skills that apprentices need to learn independently and extend their knowledge.  Leaders should ensure that all apprentices benefit from impartial advice on the wider options available to them including for further or higher education when they complete their apprenticeship. 3 to 5 July 2023

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 Leaders should ensure that all apprentices have a good understanding of radicalisation and extremism and how it applies to them in their personal lives and while at work. 3 to 5 July 2023

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Provider details

Address Ty Copa Argyll Road Llandudno LL30 1DF

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Gareth James

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Provider details

Provider type Independent Learning Provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Provider details

Main subcontractors N/A 3 to 5 July 2023

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the managing director, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous new provider monitoring visit report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting online learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and employers, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Andrea Machell, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector Zoe Ibbotson Ofsted Inspector Maura Cummins Ofsted Inspector 3 to 5 July 2023

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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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