The Training Initiative Group Ltd

The Training Initiative Group Ltd Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Stuart Collett, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 15 and 16 November 2023

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

The Enterprise Centre Corporation Street Tamworth B79 7DN Monitoring visit: The Training Initiative Group Ltd, 15 and 16 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 adult learning provision where the provision offered is in scope for inspection. 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

The Training Initiative Group Limited was subject to a new provider monitoring visit for apprenticeships in May 2022. Since the visit, leaders have decided to cease offering apprenticeships. Since then, leaders have secured a contract to deliver Skills Bootcamps with the West Midlands Combined Authority and began teaching these in August 2023. Consequently, this visit focused only on Skills Bootcamps.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the visit, fewer than five learners, all over the age of 19, were following a Skills Bootcamp in logistics and warehousing. Inspectors also considered the views and experiences of adults who had recently completed their learning.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers articulate a clear rationale for the Skills Bootcamp they offer. They have chosen to develop a programme to support unemployed learners into sustained employment in logistics and warehousing in line with the identified skills needs of the area.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have worked closely with employers to develop the Skills Bootcamp. The curriculum they have selected includes subjects that local employers feel are essential for new entrants to the sector, including health and safety, and key skills for work, such as timekeeping and attendance.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that teachers are vocationally experienced and have undertaken appropriate training and qualifications to teach. Leaders actively support and encourage teachers to undertake regular continuing professional development to develop further their vocational knowledge and their teaching skills. As a result, learners benefit from vocationally relevant teaching that helps them to know more and do more throughout their course. Monitoring visit: The Training Initiative Group Ltd, 15 and 16 November 2023 Leaders do not currently have arrangements for external scrutiny of the quality of education they provide. Having ended the previous arrangements for scrutiny of their apprenticeships, leaders have not yet been successful in putting in place similar arrangements for their Skills Bootcamps, and as a consequence do not utilise external challenge or oversight.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders engage in a range of quality assurance activities. They use tools, including classroom observations, learning walks and learner feedback, to understand the quality of teaching that learners receive and intervene where changes are needed. For example, recent learner feedback indicated that the waiting times for enrolment were too long for learners keen to get back into employment. Leaders acted on this and have added more frequent entry points to the course.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place arrangements to monitor the destinations of learners on completion of their Skills Bootcamp. However, as the course is new, it is too soon to judge the impact of the Skills Bootcamp on the long-term employment prospects of learners.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ordered the curriculum sensibly to ensure that learners build on their knowledge throughout their course. For example, learners study recycling and disposal before moving on to the environmental impact of the sector, energy efficiency and finally team leadership. As a result, learners quickly develop an understanding of key topics and the links between them.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and teachers measure learners’ starting points effectively at the beginning of the course and use this information to individualise the curriculum. As a result, learners make swift progress from their starting points.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers provide most learners with helpful feedback that tells them what they have done well. As a result, learners develop confidence in their knowledge. However, in a minority of cases, feedback does not include sufficient detail to tell learners what they need to do in order to improve their work.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers use a range of assessment strategies in lessons to extend learners’ knowledge and to identify gaps in their understanding. They skilfully determine what learners know and target any areas for further development. As a result, learners gain a secure understanding of the topics they study.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers provide learners with useful opportunities to develop their English skills. Learners receive support to enhance their writing skills when creating a CV and to Monitoring visit: The Training Initiative Group Ltd, 15 and 16 November 2023 improve their verbal communication while participating in mock job interviews. As a result, learners feel well prepared for their job interviews.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers accurately measure learner progress and quickly intervene to support learners who are falling behind in their studies. The support that teachers provide is tailored to learners’ individual needs and helps them to catch up. As a result, the large majority of learners successfully complete their studies.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have appointed a suitably trained designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy DSL. The DSL has developed and implemented a suite of suitable policies and procedures for the recording and referral of safeguarding cases and safe recruitment of staff.

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Reasonable progress

The DSL has built appropriate links with external agencies to obtain up-to-date and relevant information on the risks in the region where learners live and work. The DSL communicates this information with tutors, who subsequently discuss this with learners during sessions.

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Reasonable progress

The DSL ensures that all staff undertake regular training on topics such as safeguarding, the ‘Prevent’ duty and counter terrorism. Monitoring visit: The Training Initiative Group Ltd, 15 and 16 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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