Mary P's Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection dates: 20 to 22 September 2023

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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Information about this provider

Mary P’s Ltd is an independent learning provider based in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. It has three early years nurseries located in Gloucestershire, where it trains apprentices in early years apprenticeships. At the time of the inspection, Mary P’s Ltd had seven apprentices studying standards-based apprenticeships, two of whom were aged between 16 and 18. Two apprentices were studying the level 3 early years educator apprenticeship and five the level 2 early years practitioner apprenticeship. 20 to 22 September 2023

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

Apprentices thoroughly enjoy their training. They develop excellent new subject knowledge, practical skills, and professional behaviours. Apprentices feel valued as members of staff at Mary P’s Ltd. They are highly motivated by the wide range of opportunities to work with different children and in all the nursery playrooms.

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

Apprentices’ attitudes to their studies are excellent. They take immense pride in their work. Apprentices’ attendance at work and training is high. They understand fully their responsibilities to be reliable team members and to ensure that the children in their care are supervised and safe.

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

Apprentices enjoy the exceptionally high-quality additional courses that leaders make available to them. They take part in many of these courses, which enables them to explore their personal interests in a diverse range of subjects, such as Down syndrome, psychology and mental health.

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

Apprentices make a significant and positive contribution to their local community. They organise and participate in a wide range of charitable fundraising activities and civic events. Apprentices raise funds to support parents who have experienced the loss of a child.

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

Apprentices feel safe in training and in the workplace. They value greatly the encouraging and caring culture leaders have created. Apprentices have an in-depth knowledge of how to keep themselves and the children in their care safe in the event of a critical incident.

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better?

Leaders provide apprentices with an ambitious and high-quality apprenticeship. Leaders have significant experience of early years education and use this well to develop an exceptional curriculum that addresses local skills shortages.

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better?

Leaders have planned a curriculum that goes beyond the requirements of the apprenticeship. For example, they provide a transition course for apprentices who complete the level 3 early years educator apprenticeship to equip them with the leadership skills they need to progress into management roles. As a result, many of these apprentices successfully move into nursery manager jobs within Mary P’s.

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better?

Leaders ensure that assessors receive regular, high-quality professional development that reflects well the current practices in early years education. For example, assessors attend workshops on topics such as curriculum design, how to carry out special educational needs assessments and the latest practices in observing children in nurseries.

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better?

Assessors are highly qualified and experienced. They have relevant degrees in early years practice and expert knowledge in the subjects they teach. Assessors use their 20 to 22 September 2023

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knowledge exceptionally well to support, challenge and inspire apprentices. They encourage apprentices to observe and record senior staff carrying out tasks in the nursery three times before they attempt these themselves. As a result, apprentices are well prepared and confident in leading play activities and observing children.

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Apprentices link educational theories to the children they know within the nursery well. This brings the theory to life and successfully embeds their knowledge of complex ideas. For example, apprentices can describe fluently the principles of computational theory and the importance of a variety of play activities in positively affecting children’s intellectual and emotional development.

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Assessors are rigorous in ensuring that apprentices complete job tasks to a high standard. Assessors use imaginative assessment techniques to revisit knowledge apprentices have been taught. Assessors meet regularly to agree the questions they will ask apprentices in order to check what they know and understand. As a result, apprentices explain with confidence how they apply what they are being taught in training to their job roles.

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Assessors help to reduce the barriers to learning that may impede apprentices’ work and studies. For example, assessors plan and adapt training around apprentices’ childcare and family commitments. As a result, apprentices have consistent work and study schedules that enable them to focus well on their learning.

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Assessors provide apprentices with training that is beyond the content of the apprenticeships they are studying. For example, assessors teach apprentices studying the level 3 early years educator apprenticeship academic writing skills, including how to reference their work, to help them to prepare for university-level study. Assessors provide apprentices with additional classes to help those with limited prior experience of using information technology in the workplace to improve their digital skills.

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Assessors provide apprentices with helpful written and verbal feedback that challenges them to link consistently the knowledge they are learning to practical examples in the workplace. This helps apprentices to make substantial progress over time and to produce exceptionally high-quality coursework. Apprentices studying the level 2 early years practitioner apprenticeship use technical vocabulary that is well above the expected standard.

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Assessors plan well-constructed English and mathematics curriculums for apprentices. Assessors assess apprentices’ abilities in these subjects at the start of the apprenticeship and use this information effectively to plan a curriculum that focuses on filling the gaps in apprentices’ knowledge and skills. Apprentices use mathematical knowledge confidently to plan staffing ratios, to time and sequence observations of children and to write accurate reports. Apprentices who need to gain qualifications in English and mathematics successfully pass their examinations.

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Apprentices receive regular and helpful careers information, advice and guidance from their assessors. Apprentices who are considering careers outside of early years 20 to 22 September 2023

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education are provided with impartial careers advice through the local further education college. Apprentices are very well informed and prepared for their next steps into employment or further study.

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All apprentices who complete their apprenticeship achieve their qualification and progress to their planned destination. Almost all apprentices who complete the level 3 early years educator apprenticeship remain with the company in managerial roles.

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Governance arrangements are highly effective. Leaders carefully select external professionals to act as critical friends and provide support and challenge. For example, leaders work closely with the local authority’s senior early years advisor, who advises them about strategic considerations and legislative updates. Leaders commission training advice and scrutiny from an external consultancy and request regular quality assurance reviews from the awarding organisation that is responsible for the apprenticeships the provider offers.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 20 to 22 September 2023

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Provider details

Address Mary P’s Ltd Ashchurch Parkway Tewkesbury GL20 8TU

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Vikki Brannagan

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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 None 20 to 22 September 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 inspection 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 learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Cliff Shaw, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Clare Hood Ofsted Inspector 20 to 22 September 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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