Probusiness Edge Limited

Probusiness Edge Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Suzanne Horner, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

4 Buckingham Road Tuebrook Liverpool L13 8AZ Monitoring visit: Probusiness Edge Limited, 1 and 2 November 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

Probusiness Edge Limited is an independent learning provider based in Liverpool, Merseyside. It provides apprenticeship training in youth support work. The company began to offer apprenticeships in September 2022. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were seven apprentices in learning. All apprentices study the youth support worker apprenticeship at level 3 with two employers.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clearly defined strategy for the development of a high-quality apprenticeship. They work closely with stakeholders, such as the National Youth Agency and Liverpool City Council to provide an apprenticeship to meet local and regional needs and to respond to skills shortages in youth support work.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have an accurate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their apprenticeship. However, leaders recognise that their self-assessment and quality improvement plans are in their infancy and need further development. Leaders need to identify all of their areas for improvement and have review dates to monitor the progress and impact of their actions.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place effective quality assurance processes to monitor and improve the quality of teaching that apprentices receive and the standard of work that apprentices produce. However, they identify that these processes need to be expanded so that the quality of all aspects of the apprenticeship is focused on throughout the year.

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Reasonable progress

Staff are well qualified and have extensive experience in youth work. Employers and apprentices value highly the expertise of staff. Staff maintain their vocational currency by working as youth workers in the sector. Monitoring visit: Probusiness Edge Limited, 1 and 2 November 2023 Leaders ensure that there are appropriate arrangements in place for apprentices’ final assessments. The apprenticeship lead at the provider is an end-point assessor for an awarding organisation. This enables them to have an accurate understanding of the content and process of apprentices’ final assessments. However, while apprentices know the content of their final assessments, most are not aware of the grade opportunities that are available to them.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have appointed an external governance officer. This person is qualified and experienced to undertake the role and has a clear understanding of their statutory responsibilities. However, leaders acknowledge that they need to formalise governance arrangements to ensure that the officer can provide the scrutiny and challenge needed to continue to improve the quality of education for apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop supportive and professional relationships with the young people in their care. Young people respond to their instruction and guidance positively. Apprentices learn how to deal with situations that they would previously have found difficult. For example, apprentices have developed their confidence in working with teenagers who display antisocial behaviour.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are passionate about the work that they do in their communities and the impact that they have on improving young people’s lives. They support young people’s long-term development and provide safe spaces where young people can express themselves.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors plan a logically sequenced curriculum that develops apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours well. They link current topics back to previous content to reinforce learning effectively. Apprentices plan interesting sessions for young people, such as arts and crafts and sports activities. They organise residential activities to help young people learn social skills and tolerance.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have regular, tripartite progress review meetings. Records of reviews demonstrate that tutors understand their apprentices’ needs and monitor the progress that they make. Reviews include relevant checks on apprentices’ learning and how they apply it in their roles. However, targets are task based and focus on the completion of journals or off-the-job records rather than aspects of the apprenticeship that apprentices need to learn or practise.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide apprentices with detailed feedback on their written work. This helps them to understand clearly what they have done well and what they need to do to improve. Most apprentices use this feedback effectively to improve their future work. However, in a few instances, apprentices do not adhere fully to deadlines for the submission of work. As a result, these apprentices fall behind. Monitoring visit: Probusiness Edge Limited, 1 and 2 November 2023 Apprentices receive information on opportunities for their future career development. They are aware of university degree courses in youth and community work. However, leaders recognise that they need to strengthen the careers information that they provide for apprentices so that apprentices know all the progression routes that are available to them.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders place a high priority on keeping apprentices safe. They ensure that all staff and members of the safeguarding team are suitably qualified. Leaders complete a range of appropriate checks when appointing staff to make sure that they are suitable to work with apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe. They have a good understanding of local risks and threats, such as county lines, drugs and gang-related violence. Apprentices accurately recall information from their training on safeguarding, health and safety, and the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. This ensures that apprentices can assure the safety of themselves and the young people in their care.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place systems and processes to record, report and deal with safeguarding concerns. They have effective partnerships with external agencies, such as local councils, the police and mental health support charities. However, these processes are yet to be tested. Monitoring visit: Probusiness Edge 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 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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