Heathercroft Training Services Limited

Heathercroft Training Services Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Richard Kirkham, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

142 Whitley Road Eastbourne BN22 8LT Monitoring visit: Heathercroft Training Services Limited, 2 and 3 November 2023

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Context and focus of visit

Heathercroft Training Services was inspected in November 2022. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in resolving the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Context and focus of visit

Heathercroft Training Services (HTS) is based in Eastbourne. At the time of the inspection, HTS provided apprenticeships and adult learning programmes. There were 229 apprentices, including 15 who were on a break in learning. There were 106 apprentices on four programmes from level 2 to level 5 in health and social care, and 108 apprentices on five programmes at levels 2 and 3 in early years. There were seven apprentices on four digital programmes at levels 3 and 4. There were six apprentices on the business administrator programme at level 3, and two apprentices on the team leader programme at level 3. Eighteen apprentices were under 18 years of age. Five adult learners were on study programmes at level 3 or level 5 in early years or adult care. HTS has no subcontractors.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have restructured the organisation since the previous inspection to ensure that appropriate staff are in place to support learners and apprentices. Leaders have employed new coaches, a learner support coordinator and a quality manager. Apprentices and learners recognise the positive impact the new team is having on their progress, such as greater communication and support that are accelerating their learning.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have implemented positive opportunities for apprentices to develop their ability in English and mathematics. Apprentices benefit from one-to-one English and mathematics teaching and online resources that enable them to develop these essential skills. Apprentices value this support, with an improved proportion now achieving their functional skills qualifications and progressing towards their end-point assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have implemented effective processes to identify and support apprentices with a health-related or learning difficulty or disability. The learning support coordinator assesses apprentices’ and learners’ needs and implements regular support and reasonable adjustments to their learning. The coordinator works closely with the coaches to ensure that they are aware of how best to support these Monitoring visit: Heathercroft Training Services Limited, 2 and 3 November 2023 individuals. Apprentices with support needs are progressing in line with, or better than, their peers.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have implemented positive support for apprentices who are past their expected end date. Apprentices are benefiting from these helpful interventions and have started to make quicker progress. Of those who achieve, a good proportion achieve a high grade.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have not yet implemented a curriculum that extends beyond the technical and vocational content of the apprenticeship. Apprentices and learners do not benefit from a personal development curriculum that promotes opportunities for them to develop their wider talents and interests.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have not implemented a curriculum that ensures that apprentices are aware of how to keep themselves physically and mentally healthy. Leaders have not focused sufficiently on ensuring that young apprentices have access to age- appropriate information about healthy relationships.

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Insufficient progress

Leaders have been too slow to implement a well-planned careers, education, information, advice and guidance curriculum. Leaders do not routinely make apprentices aware of the full breadth of careers open to them on completion of the apprenticeship. Apprentices are not aware of how their skills could be transferable to other sectors and job roles.

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Insufficient progress

Tutors promote equality of opportunity and fundamental British values through the content of the programme. Apprentices develop their understanding and appreciation of equality and diversity and demonstrate this well in the care they provide to others at work. Apprentices develop positive and respectful relationships with colleagues and with service users and their families.

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Reasonable progress

Employers value their relationship with HTS. Employers recognise the improvement that leaders have made in their communication and support since the restructuring of the team and value the impact this is having on their apprentices. Employers recognise the positive impact that apprentices are having in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have made progress in ensuring that employers are actively involved in their apprentices’ learning. Leaders have introduced a mentoring role to Monitoring visit: Heathercroft Training Services Limited, 2 and 3 November 2023 change employers’ expectations and improve employers’ participation at apprentices’ progress reviews. Apprentices who have enrolled more recently have benefited more from these interventions. However, leaders recognise that too many employers are still not fully aware of the progress their apprentices are making or the time and support they need to provide to enable apprentices to make the rapid progress of which they are capable.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that employers who are not able to attend apprentices’ progress review meetings are still able to contribute to their learning. Employers report that due to the demands of the care sector, they cannot always commit to attending meetings in person. In many cases where this occurs, coaches now use other communication tools effectively, such as the online portal, to seek employers’ feedback and inform them of their apprentices’ progress. Where this works well, employers use this information effectively to review and support apprentices in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and committee members recognise the need for further employer engagement in curriculum design and implementation. These plans have not yet been fully implemented in order to have a positive impact on apprentices and their progress. Monitoring visit: Heathercroft Training Services Limited, 2 and 3 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 and child protection.

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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

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