VIA East Midlands Limited

VIA East Midlands Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Angela Twelvetree, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Inspection dates: 11 and 12 October 2023

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

Bilsthorpe Highways Depot Bilsthorpe Business Park Eakring Road Bilsthorpe NG22 8ST Monitoring visit: VIA East Midland Limited, 11 and 12 October 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

VIA East Midlands Limited (VIA) is a highway maintenance company that provides road maintenance for Nottinghamshire County Council. It offers two apprenticeships: one for its own employees and the other for employers in the East Midlands region. VIA apprentices are taught on site, in classrooms and in the depot. Other apprentices are taught at their workplace.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

At the time of the visit, there were five apprentices. Of these, three VIA employees study the level 2 highways maintenance skilled operative and two study the level 2 construction plant operative. A very small number study mathematics and English qualifications alongside their apprenticeship. Three apprentices are under 18 years of age, and two are adults.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have selected appropriate courses that help apprentices to develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours. For example, the level 2 highways maintenance skilled operative course trains apprentices to work well in VIA’s road maintenance department.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Managers work closely with employers to understand their needs and design the curriculum to best suit their business needs. For example, the level 2 plant operative apprentices gain an additional telehandler qualification so that they can operate heavy equipment safely and effectively in the workplace.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that the apprenticeship courses meet all the necessary requirements. Employers and managers understand well the commitments they need to make to support apprentices. Apprentices are supported well and receive adequate, well-planned on- and off-the-job training. Monitoring visit: VIA East Midland Limited, 11 and 12 October 2023 Trainers have appropriate experience within the sector and complete teacher and assessor qualifications. Managers have ensured that trainers have the appropriate National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS) certification for the plant they train on. Trainers use their expertise well to support apprentices.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices study in suitable learning environments. They are taught in dedicated, well-equipped classrooms. When undertaking practical work in the depot and on employer premises, they benefit from high-quality, industry- standard plant and equipment.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a range of suitable quality assurance processes in place. They observe training sessions and review apprentices’ written work and feedback. However, leaders and managers do not use the information produced from these activities well enough to plan precise actions to support improvements.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have recently set up an apprenticeship board of governance. Governors have suitable skills and experience of apprenticeships. They have a broad understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the apprenticeship provision. Leaders and managers have plans to provide more precise information to governors to allow them to provide additional challenge and scrutiny.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Managers and trainers have developed monthly block-release apprenticeship courses. They plan each block of training carefully so that it builds on prior learning and focuses on the specific knowledge and skills that apprentices need. For example, construction plant operative apprentices learn how to use an item of plant, such as a rear-tipping dumper truck, to the NPORS standard. These apprentices quickly develop a good level of expertise.

p.3

Reasonable progress

All current apprentices were recruited as school leavers who had no existing knowledge or skills for their new job roles. Trainers give them suitable advice on the career options available within the business and wider sector.

p.3

Reasonable progress

For the very few apprentices who need it, trainers provide appropriate weekly tuition in mathematics and English. However, this has only recently started, so it is too early to judge the quality or impact of these lessons.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop an in-depth understanding of a broad range of occupationally specific knowledge, skills and behaviours. Construction plant operative apprentices learn how to operate a wide range of machinery such as loading shovels, rear-tipping dumper trucks and ride-on rollers. Monitoring visit: VIA East Midland Limited, 11 and 12 October 2023 Trainers use questioning effectively during training sessions to ensure that apprentices understand topics. They use practical activities to assess apprentices’ skills and provide clear feedback that enables apprentices to recognise what they do well and what they need to do to improve.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Apprenticeship staff work well with apprentices’ line managers to ensure that apprentices have opportunities to practise what they learn in their off-the-job training. Highways maintenance skilled operative apprentices learn about installing kerbs. They are then assigned to work gangs who install kerbs or set gullies.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Managers and trainers use an online platform to store apprentices’ work. This enables trainers, managers and line managers to monitor how much progress each apprentice makes. Consequently, all parties know how well apprentices are performing and are able to intervene if problems arise.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Managers and trainers have not planned arrangements for end-point assessment (EPA) well enough. Trainers are not certain about the standards of performance that apprentices need to reach in each element. This makes it difficult for staff to ensure that apprentices are well prepared. As no apprentices have taken their EPA, the impact is not yet clear.

p.4

Insufficient progress

Leaders and managers do not have suitable processes in place to ensure the safer recruitment of staff who work with apprentices. The required pre-employment checks are not completed in a timely manner and are not adequately recorded.

p.4

Insufficient progress

The designated safeguarding lead, deputy and staff are suitably trained. Managers have suitable safeguarding policies and an appropriate ‘Prevent’ risk assessment in place.

p.4

Insufficient progress

Trainers discuss safeguarding topics with apprentices during their induction period. Apprentices receive appropriate guidance on online safety, safeguarding and the dangers of radicalisation.

p.4

Insufficient progress

Apprentices know who to report any concerns to, both at work and during training. To date, there have been no safeguarding cases reported. Monitoring visit: VIA East Midland Limited, 11 and 12 October 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.

p.4

Insufficient 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

Insufficient 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

Insufficient progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Insufficient progress

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

p.5