Aspect Training Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection dates: 29 November to 1 December 2023

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Adult learning programmes Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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Information about this provider

Aspect Training Limited is an independent learning provider that provides training to adult learners in Sheffield and Lincolnshire. Its head office is in Eckington, near Sheffield. At the time of the inspection, there were 16 learners enrolled on one of three programmes, with 13 enrolled on a level 3 diploma in health and social care courses and fewer than five on a level 5 diploma in leadership and management for adult care course and a level 4 diploma in adult care course. 29 November to 1 December 2023

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners benefit from the expertise of their tutors who use a range of effective teaching strategies to help them learn. Tutors use their experience in the sector well to illustrate learning and to hold professional discussions. They link what they teach to learners’ workplaces, which helps learners to understand the topic. For example, when teaching learners about confidentiality, tutors discuss the employer’s policy and protocol. Tutors recap on previous learning to check learners’ understanding and to check that they remember what they have been taught.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners respond well to the high expectations set by tutors. They demonstrate professional behaviours during training and in the workplace. Learners treat clients, peers and tutors with respect and appreciate the different backgrounds, religions and cultures that people have. Learners work in a range of care settings with clients who are elderly, have autism and who have been released from prison. They understand the importance of treating everyone equally and with dignity and tolerance.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners attend their planned sessions well. Tutors provide training to learners on a one-to-one basis through a combination of remote and face-to-face delivery. In a few instances, where learners cannot attend training due to shift patterns changing or work demands, tutors swiftly make alternative arrangements to ensure that learners do not miss planned learning. Tutors monitor attendance closely and keep employers informed about learner participation and any required interventions.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners have a positive attitude to their learning. They value the training and support that they receive from their tutors and the opportunity to put taught theories into practice in their workplace. Employers value the contribution that learners make to their organisation. For example, learners organise staff rotas and find cover for colleagues who are off sick.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners feel safe. They know to whom they should report any concerns. Learners benefit from valuable training from tutors who teach them about online safety, scams, domestic violence, bullying and harassment in the workplace, and sexual harassment and violence. Most learners have a good understanding of local risks and how to take steps to stay safe when working alone. However, in a few cases, learners are not aware of risks relevant to their local area.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Learners have a good understanding of the potential risks of extremism and radicalisation. They can explain signs of extremist behaviour such as someone forcing their religious beliefs or ideologies on other people.

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better?

Leaders and managers have a clear curriculum strategy, which is to provide training in health and social care to adults who work in care settings. They provide courses leading to qualifications at level 3, 4 and 5 which are funded through adult learning 29 November to 1 December 2023

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loans. Leaders and managers have made the strategic decision to stop offering the level 4 diploma in adult care and the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for adult care as it is difficult to find high-quality tutors to deliver these programmes. Tutors are currently supporting a very small number of learners to complete these courses.

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Leaders, managers and tutors work closely with employers to ensure that the curriculum meets their business needs. They discuss the role of learners in the workplace and link the optional topics that learners select to learners’ work roles and to meet the needs employers. For example, where learners work with elderly clients, the employer needs them to learn about end-of-life care.

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Leaders and managers rightly recognise that too many learners have not made the progress of which they are capable and are past their planned end date. Since the return to work of two key members of staff, managers and tutors have worked effectively to support learners to catch up and complete their course. Tutors have taken appropriate action to help learners on the level 3 diploma in health and social care and the level 4 diploma in adult care courses to catch up with their learning. These learners are making appropriate progress against their revised end dates. However, tutors have been too slow in supporting the very small number of learners on the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for adult care course.

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Leaders and managers have effective oversight of the quality of the provision and the progress that learners make. Managers have put in place a wide range of activities to check the quality of the learner experience. For example, an external specialist carries out observations of teaching and reviews learners’ work and the progress that learners make. Managers hold regular meetings with staff to check on the progress of learners and discuss the outcome of quality assurance activities.

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Tutors identify accurate starting points for learners. They assess learners’ prior knowledge and experience in the care sector and their English and mathematics skills. They use this information to discuss which programme is most appropriate for learners and to plan and implement individual learning programmes.

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Tutors plan and deliver the curriculum in a logical order. On the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for adult care course, tutors deliver the communication unit alongside coverage of leadership and management theories. This enables learners to apply the theories in the workplace. On the level 3 diploma in health and social care course, tutors teach safeguarding principles at the start of the programme. This is then embedded within each of the units that learners study to deepen their understanding further. As a result, learners rapidly understand the importance of safeguarding legislation and how this can impact on their job role.

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Tutors are appropriately qualified and have significant experience of working in the care sector in operational and managerial roles. They complete useful training to update their subject knowledge, including topics such as the management of diabetes and discriminatory abuse. However, tutors do not attend training to improve their teaching skills further. 29 November to 1 December 2023

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Tutors use their experience well to support learners to develop new knowledge and skills. On the level 3 diploma in health and social care course, learners learn about nutrition and hydration. Learners can talk about the main food groups and their sources. They can explain the different dietary requirements that clients have and how people can be supported to maintain a healthy balanced diet. Learners can also explain the impact of a poor diet and lack of hydration. On the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for adult care course, learners become skilled in chairing staff meetings at work.

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Tutors support learners well to further improve their English skills. Most learners have level 2 English qualifications when they enrol on the programme. Tutors integrate the further development of English skills into training sessions and give feedback to learners on their assignments, which enables learners to improve their sentence construction and writing of paragraphs. However, tutors do not develop learners’ mathematical skills well enough, focusing mainly on the small number of learners who do not have a level 2 qualification in mathematics. Managers and tutors recognise the need to improve the integration of mathematics in sessions in order to enhance further the skills of all learners.

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Tutors identify learners’ careers aspirations at the start of the programme. They provide useful support to help learners decide which optional units to select on their programme in line with their job role and long-term career goals. For example, learners who want to specialise in working with clients with dementia select this topic to study. Learners then receive careers advice and support throughout their programme. Tutors provide learners who express an interest in specific roles, such as nursing associate, with information about how to apply and find links to career vacancies in the National Health Service. However, they do not routinely provide such information to all learners.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure that tutors attend training to develop their teaching skills further.  Enhance the development of learners’ mathematical skills within the context of the workplace.  Ensure that all learners receive information about the full range of careers opportunities related to the course that they are studying. 29 November to 1 December 2023

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Provider details

Address Eckington Business Centre 62 Market Street Eckington Sheffield S21 4JH

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 3 to 5 November 2021

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 29 November to 1 December 2023

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by a tutor, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Jacquie Brown, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Debra Forsythe-Conroy Ofsted Inspector 29 November to 1 December 2023

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

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