Mcfarlane Telfer Limited

McFarlane Telfer Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Ann Potterton, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 25 and 26 October 2023

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Address: Unit B5 Westacott Way Business Centre Littlewick Green Maidenhead SL6 3RT Monitoring visit: Mcfarlane Telfer Limited, 25 and 26 October 2023

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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.

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Context and focus of visit

Mcfarlane Telfer Limited is an employer provider based in Maidenhead. The organisation has been training apprentices since November 2022. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 19 apprentices on level 3 commercial catering equipment technician apprenticeship and five on level 3 refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician apprenticeship. All apprentices were aged over 19 years old and work in Mcfarlane Telfer Limited’s locations across the UK. Apprentices attend a purpose-built training facility near the head office for their training sessions.

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Reasonable

Leaders have identified and designed appropriate apprenticeship programmes that meet the national recruitment need for skilled catering and refrigeration technicians. For example, leaders have thoughtfully drawn on their sector expertise to create an academy to recruit and train their own employees. As a result, they contribute usefully to meeting the national need and develop skilled staff for their workforce.

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Reasonable

Leaders are ambitious for all apprentices to be highly competent technicians. They provide relevant additional training beyond the apprenticeship such as an electrical competency and safe isolation qualification and soft skills training. As a result, all apprentices develop specialised skills to help them progress rapidly in their careers.

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Reasonable

Leaders ensure the provision meets most of the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship securely. Staff check carefully that apprentices study at an appropriate level to learn substantial new knowledge and skills. Teaching staff and line managers review apprentices’ progress frequently and agree useful actions for improvement. As a result, apprentices make progress swiftly and use these new skills safely and correctly for their job role. Monitoring visit: Mcfarlane Telfer Limited, 25 and 26 October 2023 Leaders do not ensure that line managers and apprentices are sufficiently well informed about the requirements for the final tests. Consequently, most apprentices are unaware of the grades they can achieve and how to reach their full potential.

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Reasonable

Leaders have not organised teaching sessions for those apprentices who require English and mathematics qualifications quickly enough. As a result, those apprentices have not yet started these qualifications which they need to complete their apprenticeship successfully.

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Reasonable

Leaders and non-executive directors oversee the apprenticeships conscientiously. For example, they review detailed reports frequently, provide helpful challenge and make informed improvements. As a result, leaders manage the programmes effectively and where there are still improvements needed, have clear plans to make them.

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Reasonable

Curriculum managers evaluate the course design and content effectively to ensure apprentices benefit from a well-structured programme. For example, leaders adapted the programme design to include a longer initial training period. This ensures apprentices have the essential knowledge and skills, such as using tools competently, to be able to go confidently into the workplace.

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Reasonable

Leaders ensure apprentices receive relevant, high-quality training. For example, leaders recruit industry experts and develop them to be skilled teachers. Expert trainers share helpful examples from their own experience and reinforce the correct use of technical vocabulary regularly. As a result, apprentices relate their learning to the workplace rapidly, use correct terminology confidently and have up-to-date knowledge.

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Reasonable

Leaders ensure apprentices have access to appropriately resourced training environments. For example, the training academy has up-to-date equipment and leaders also provide opportunities for apprentices to practise in commercial kitchens. As a result, they prepare apprentices thoroughly for the workplace.

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Reasonable

Trainers and coaches plan on- and off-the-job training for apprentices effectively. For example, trainers teach apprentices how to install dishwashers correctly using demonstrations, practice sessions and manufacturer training sessions. Coaches mentor apprentices at work checking they consider amperage ratings, water hardness, and health and safety carefully. As a result, apprentices develop substantial new knowledge and skills and learn how to work independently rapidly. Monitoring visit: Mcfarlane Telfer Limited, 25 and 26 October 2023 When necessary, leaders adapt the programme successfully for those with additional needs or facing challenging circumstances. As a result, these apprentices progress as well as their peers.

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Reasonable

Trainers do not effectively support apprentices to develop their literacy and numeracy skills sufficiently well. For example, apprentices do not benefit from feedback that identifies spelling and grammar errors. As a result, apprentices do not recognise or correct their mistakes and do not improve essential report-writing skills.

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Reasonable

Leaders ensure staff are suitably aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. They create a caring and safe environment in the training centre and the workplace. They ensure apprentices know how to stay safe online.

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Reasonable

Staff reinforce the importance of safety at work rigorously. For example, they discuss safety implications of negligence during a fault-finding lesson. Consequently, apprentices are supported to keep safe in the workplace.

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Reasonable

Apprentices feel safe, know how to keep themselves and others safe, and how to raise concerns. Leaders rightly recognise the need to further develop apprentices’ deeper understanding of local risks of radicalisation and extremism. They have sensible plans in place to strengthen training in this area but it is too early to see the impact. Monitoring visit: Mcfarlane Telfer Limited, 25 and 26 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

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Reasonable

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Reasonable

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