Searegs Training Ltd

SeaRegs Training Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Clifford Shaw, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address: Turnchapel Wharf Barton Road Plymouth PL9 9RQ Monitoring visit: SeaRegs Training Limited, 1 and 2 November 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

SeaRegs Training Limited is an independent learning provider that offers apprenticeships for employers in the maritime industry. For example, harbours, river authorities and seaports. It received a contract to provide standards-based apprenticeships in August 2022 and commenced delivery in the same month. At the time of the inspection, 20 apprentices were studying the level 3 workboat crewmember apprenticeship and 12 apprentices were studying the level 3 boatmaster apprenticeship. Most apprentices are new to the industry and nearly all are aged 19 and over.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have planned an ambitious and high-quality curriculum for their apprentices. Leaders’ significant experience of teaching maritime training resulted in them contributing to and advising on the development of boatmaster and workboat crewmember apprenticeship standards. They use their knowledge of the industry insightfully to plan training that meets the national skills needs of harbour, port and river authorities. Leaders plan training that prepares apprentices well for new and emerging jobs, such as windfarm servicing and autonomous vessel operation.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders actively promote the positive benefits of apprenticeships to employers within the maritime industry. Leaders encourage apprentices to act as advocates for boatmaster and workboat crew apprenticeships by representing the provider at school careers fairs and trade events. As a result, apprentices feel valued, gain in confidence and develop valuable communication and interpersonal skills.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices achieve well. All apprentices who complete the apprenticeship successfully achieve their qualification and over half are awarded with the highest grade. Most of the few apprentices who need to gain qualifications in Monitoring visit: SeaRegs Training Limited, 1 and 2 November 2023 English or mathematics successfully pass their examination at the first attempt. All apprentices who complete their apprenticeship secure full-time jobs with their employer, and many use what they have learned to take on new responsibilities at work.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have a broad and accurate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the apprenticeships they provide. Leaders focus rightly on ensuring that the content of the curriculum meets the stringent standards required by their awarding and regulatory organisations. However, they do not have effective processes in place to improve further what they do well or to address known weaknesses. For example, leaders identified correctly that a few instructors need to improve the effectiveness of how they check the knowledge apprentices have gained but have not taken action to help instructors improve their practice.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders plan training carefully so that apprentices gain new knowledge, skills and behaviours securely at each stage of their apprenticeship. Leaders ensure that at the start of the apprenticeship apprentices are taught how to keep themselves and others safe both on and off the water. For example, apprentices learn survival techniques, first aid and security duties. Leaders plan training effectively to provide apprentices with useful additional knowledge, skills and qualifications, so that they are prepared well for a wide range of job roles within the industry. For example, apprentices receive training in topics, such as crisis management, and understanding human behaviour alongside qualifications in food hygiene and powerboat handling.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that instructors are well qualified and experienced in the subjects that they teach. Instructors hold teaching qualifications and the appropriate industry accreditation required to teach the many technical elements of the apprenticeship, such as, crane operations, navigation, radar and electronic chart systems. Instructors use their experience and expertise well to bring the content of the curriculum to life for apprentices. For example, during a lesson on safe lifting using block and tackle systems, instructors recount real incidents they have observed in the workplace as cautionary tales to reinforce apprentices’ knowledge of how to set equipment up correctly.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and instructors work with employers effectively to coordinate high quality on-the-job training opportunities for apprentices to apply what they have learned with SeaRegs in the workplace. Employers allocate mentors to apprentices who reinforce usefully what apprentices have been taught. For example, apprentices practise and demonstrate in the workplace the tying-up of vessels of various sizes from small workboats to large cruise ships. Monitoring visit: SeaRegs Training Limited, 1 and 2 November 2023 Leaders plan training so that apprentices receive good careers advice and guidance through exposure to a range of maritime occupations and experts. For example, apprentices complete a coastal skipper work experience week to learn about complex navigations and passage planning.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders do not ensure that instructors check that all apprentices retain the knowledge they need to before moving on to the next topic. Consequently, this results in a few apprentices not always gaining an understanding of the content they have studied swiftly enough.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders have put appropriate arrangements in place to keep apprentices safe. They ensure the necessary recruitment checks are completed to ensure that staff they appoint are suitable to work with apprentices. Leaders ensure that all staff receive training in the Prevent duty and in safeguarding. As a result, they understand their responsibilities well. Leaders who have responsibility for safeguarding are suitably trained.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe. They know who to speak to if they have concerns about themselves or fellow apprentices. Leaders ensure that apprentices learn swiftly how to work safely by ensuring that they gain new knowledge as a result of studying a range of accredited marine safety qualifications and endorsements. Monitoring visit: SeaRegs Training Limited, 1 and 2 November 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

p.4

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