NC Group Ltd

NC Group Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Glenise Burrell, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Inspection dates: 14 and 15 September 2023

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

3 & 4 Parsons Court Newton Aycliffe DL5 6ZE Monitoring visit: NC Group limited, 14 and 15 September 2023

p.1

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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

NC Group Limited offers apprenticeship programmes in the engineering and manufacturing sector across the north east and Tees Valley. At the time of the monitoring visit, 12 apprentices were enrolled on the level 3 team leader or supervisor apprenticeship standard, 10 were enrolled on the level 3 science industry maintenance technician standard and five were working towards the level 3 safety, health and environment standard. The provider had fewer than five apprentices working towards the level 3 business administration standard, level 3 machining technician standard, level 3 maintenance and operations engineering technician standard, level 3 engineering technician standard and the level 2 lab technician standard.

p.2

Significant progress

Leaders and trainers have selected relevant apprenticeship routes to help fill skills gaps in the manufacturing and engineering industry. They offer a flexible approach to their delivery to meet the specific needs in the local area. For example, leaders designed level 3 science industry maintenance technician standard in partnership with a local employer, and used resources donated by the employer. As a result, apprentices are training on the same machinery with the same personal protective equipment and uniforms that they use in the workplace.

p.2

Significant progress

Leaders have strong industry knowledge and understand their market very well. Employers value the training provided to their apprentices and the flexible approach to training delivery. They can see and measure the impact of the training and the improvement in apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours. Leaders work closely with employers to ensure that the training provided is relevant and targeted to their needs and the needs of their apprentices. Monitoring visit: NC Group limited, 14 and 15 September 2023 Leaders ensure that apprentices benefit from a rich curriculum that enables them to acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need in the workplace. On the level 3 science industry maintenance technician programme, apprentices study towards welding and health and safety qualifications which improve their curriculum vitae and ensure that they can work safely in line with legislation and the demands

p.2

Significant progress

Leaders and managers have strong oversight of the quality of their apprenticeship provision. They carry out a wide range of activities including observations of teaching and reviews of the quality of apprentices’ work and the feedback that apprentices receive. This ensures that apprentices benefit from high-quality training.

p.3

Significant progress

Leaders recruit highly experienced staff with strong industry backgrounds and teaching expertise. They then support tutors to develop professionally through extensive training and support. This includes training on industry-related topics, safeguarding and using current and appropriate teaching methodologies.

p.3

Significant progress

Leaders have in place a governance board which oversees the organisation well. Board members bring expertise in finance, education, business strategy and quality assurance.

p.3

Significant progress

Tutors use a range of teaching strategies very well to ensure that apprentices understand key concepts. For example, on the level 3 team leading/supervisor apprenticeship, tutors use presentations effectively to teach apprentices the key points of the session and provide numerous opportunities for apprentices to engage in debate, give examples of how they apply points raised in their workplace and contribute meaningfully to the session. As a result, apprentices are clear about what they are learning and how they can apply best practice in their job roles as team leaders or supervisors.

p.3

Significant progress

Tutors use information about apprentices’ starting points well to construct and implement training plans that help apprentices acquire new knowledge and skills. Where apprentices already have secure knowledge through, for example, level 3 engineering qualifications, tutors release them from relevant modules and reduce the hours allocated to their training offer. As a result, apprentices do not unnecessarily study curriculum content that they have previously covered and have the opportunity to move on to higher-level qualifications early in their apprenticeship.

p.3

Significant progress

Leaders and tutors ensure that apprentices know and understand the progress that they are making, through encouraging them to map their development and acquisition of new knowledge, skills and behaviour to the standard. This helps Monitoring visit: NC Group limited, 14 and 15 September 2023 apprentices measure how effective they become over time in their job roles within their workplaces.

p.3

Significant progress

Tutors use the dedicated workshop facilities effectively to train engineering and maintenance apprentices in real-life working contexts. Apprentices participate in mock risk-assessment processes and identify hazards in the workshop that they can expect to come across in their employment. As a result, they learn how to apply control measures to risks identified and are encouraged to have high standards in relation to health and safety practice in live maintenance environments.

p.4

Significant progress

Tutors plan English, mathematics and digital training into apprenticeship programmes well. Apprentices requiring functional skills qualifications benefit from sessions taught by experienced tutors of English and mathematics who are suitably trained in teaching these subjects.

p.4

Significant progress

Tutors carefully prepare apprentices for their end-point-assessments (EPA) throughout their apprenticeship. Apprentices are confident in discussing what they need to do for their EPA and work steadily and effectively towards preparing their portfolios before they enter the required gateway period.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have in place qualified designated safeguarding officers. Staff with safeguarding responsibilities are qualified and undertake further safeguarding training annually to ensure that their knowledge is current. They ensure that all staff are appropriately trained in safeguarding.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have in place useful policies and processes to ensure that the organisation is compliant with safeguarding legislation and that learners are kept safe. These include a safeguarding policy and process and a ‘Prevent’ duty policy, risk assessment and action plan.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers recruit staff who are safe to work with young people and vulnerable adults. They use safer recruitment practices including disclosure and barring checks and carry out validation checks on qualifications. Leaders rightly recognised that, in a very few instances, these checks did not follow their recruitment policy as they did not include reference requests and checks on the right to work in the United Kingdom. They have recently taken action to rectify this. Monitoring visit: NC Group limited, 14 and 15 September 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

p.4

Reasonable progress

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

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