Claudius Consulting Limited

Claudius Consulting Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Jonny Wright, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Blake House 18 Blake Street York YO1 8QG Monitoring visit: Claudius Consulting Limited, 7 and 8 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

Claudius Consulting Limited began to deliver apprenticeships in March 2023. At the time of the monitoring visit, 17 apprentices were on standards-based programmes from level 3 to level 5. Nine apprentices were on a level 4 improvement practitioner programme, seven were on a level 5 improvement specialist programme and one was on a level 3 improvement technician programme. The provider works with employers across England, providing most training online.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear vision for providing apprenticeships in the quality improvement industry for employers across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, engineering and retail. They use their extensive experience of providing commercial training in the industry to enable apprentices to develop knowledge, skills and behaviours in improvement techniques. They work with employers who need staff with project management and leadership skills to drive efficiencies and productivity in their workforce that enhance and streamline business operations.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders take care to recruit apprentices who are able to develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours through the programmes. Apprentices receive initial advice and guidance about the demands of the apprenticeship. This information includes how apprentices will be trained, how they will be assessed and the requirements for end-point assessment. This prepares apprentices well for their apprenticeship programmes.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders carry out appropriate activities to check the quality of the training that apprentices receive. They conduct lesson visits, seek feedback from apprentices and employers, and sample apprentices’ work. Leaders rightly recognise that they need to improve these further through making accurate records of the activities Monitoring visit: Claudius Consulting Limited, 7 and 8 November 2023 undertaken and using the findings to make improvements. Leaders have also sought external support to help in the development of their apprenticeship programme.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that training meets the requirements of an apprenticeship. Apprentices have comprehensive training plans in place that detail their learning programmes, including the requirement for off-the-job training. All training plans are signed by the apprentice, the employer and the provider. The responsibilities of the apprentice, employer and the provider are made clear in the document. Apprentices complete comprehensive off-the-job training logs that detail the type of training they have completed, how the training meets the requirements of the standard and the hours of training completed.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide an apprenticeship curriculum that is ambitious and challenging. They plan and deliver complex subject material to apprentices, which enables apprentices to understand better their organisation’s objectives and how to meet these through improving processes. For example, tutors plan training that helps apprentices to increase their understanding of how lean principles can help their organisation reduce costs and waste.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors sequence the curriculum logically. They start by providing apprentices with a broad understanding of lean principles and discussing associated tools and theory, before introducing higher level mathematics and statistics to advance apprentices’ knowledge and understanding. Most apprentices have started to use their knowledge and skills in the workplace through preparing projects to improve an area in their business.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors deliver online learning effectively using a range of teaching strategies that help apprentices develop their knowledge and skills. They use demonstration to show apprentices ways of working though spreadsheets and how to analyse data sources. However, in a few instances, tutors move through demonstrations too quickly, which causes a few apprentices to miss steps when working with specialised spreadsheets and to fall behind in lessons.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors use a variety of assessment strategies well to check that apprentices are making at least expected progress. They set recap tests during online sessions to check that apprentices have retained what they have been taught. However, in a few instances, tutors do not check well enough that apprentices understand more complex information, which results in a few apprentices needing to ask tutors to repeat elements. As a result, these apprentices take longer than their peers to process learning and demonstrate understanding. Monitoring visit: Claudius Consulting Limited, 7 and 8 November 2023 Tutors develop apprentices’ mathematical skills effectively in lessons. Apprentices learn how to present data accurately in graphs that they then use when planning their workplace projects.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have in place appropriate policies and procedures that they use to keep apprentices safe. They have a logical process to report any safeguarding concerns and an up-to-date ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment and action plan.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that staff are suitable to work with apprentices. They carry out background checks, including references from former employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks. All staff complete appropriate safeguarding training.

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Reasonable progress

Designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) are suitably qualified and experienced. They share up-to-date information with staff on safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. DSLs have links with external agencies to keep up to date with safeguarding themes and risks, but rightly recognise that they need to extend these further.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have implemented an effective learning programme that teaches apprentices about relevant safeguarding subjects. Apprentices confidently explain how to recognise staff who may be victims of modern slavery in the manufacturing sectors in which they work. Monitoring visit: Claudius Consulting Limited, 7 and 8 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

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 .

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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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