Health & Safety Training Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Short inspection of Health and Safety Training Limited

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Outcome

Health and Safety Training Limited continues to be a good provider.

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Information about this provider

Health and Safety Training Limited is a private company founded in 2003. Based in North Tyneside, the company operates from two main training sites in Newcastle upon Tyne and Stockton-on-Tees. It provides training in plant and machinery operations and workplace safety for the construction, transport and logistics industries. The provider offers courses in warehousing and storage at levels 1 and 2, and in driving goods vehicles, heavy good vehicles and occupational studies, all at level 2. Learners can also study towards additional health and safety qualifications.

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Information about this provider

Most learners are long-term unemployed, refugees and ex-offenders recently released from prison. At the time of inspection, fewer than five learners were on each of the following courses: occupational studies, driving goods vehicles and heavy goods vehicles. There were six learners on the level 2 warehousing and storage courses. All courses are delivered over five or six days.

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

Learners display highly positive attitudes towards their learning. There are high levels of respect between learners and staff. Learners behave professionally and safely during practical activities and work effectively with their peers. During sessions, learners contribute well to discussions and make independent notes to develop further their knowledge and understanding. They are committed and motivated to gain their qualifications and employment.

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

Learners develop their confidence when studying on their short courses. At the start, they often feel daunted at the thought of using machines such as forklift trucks for the first time. Instructors are patient and calm, and give clear instructions which helps learners to quickly develop their confidence to drive forklift trucks and other transportation vehicles.

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

Learners enhance their employability skills by gaining a range of additional qualifications in areas such as health and safety and driving cherry pickers, which are 16 and 17 April 2024

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closely aligned to their main programme of study. Most learners achieve well and develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to gain employment or move on to further learning.

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Learners have an informed understanding and awareness of safe working practices and how to stay safe. The feel safe and know how to raise issues and concerns should they need to.

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better?

Leaders and managers have a have a clear rationale for delivering warehousing and storage and transportation operations maintenance courses to adults. Their intention is to support unemployed learners back into the workplace. They have established and maintain effective working partnerships with a range of stakeholders, including employers and local job centres, to ensure that the programmes that they offer meets local and regional needs.

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better?

Instructors are well-qualified and experienced subject specialists. Leaders ensure that instructors benefit from valuable training to help them update and further develop their vocational knowledge and skills. Instructors use their expertise to quickly develop learners' knowledge and skills to a high standard. For example, on the level 2 warehousing and storage course, they teach learners to load racks of pallets on forklift trucks and to transport them safely. On courses in driving good vehicles, they teach learners how to secure various loads, including heavy plant machinery.

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better?

Leaders use a range of suitable quality assurance procedures to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the programmes that they provide. Managers observe teachers’ practice frequently but focus on instructors’ vocational expertise rather than the impact that instructors’ teaching skills have on developing learners' knowledge and skills. Consequently, instructors do not know what teaching skills they need to improve. Leaders and managers do not provide training to improve instructors’ pedagogical skills.

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better?

Instructors plan and deliver the curriculum in a logical order which enables learners to enhance their knowledge and skills progressively. For example, on courses in driving good vehicles learners begin by developing their understanding of safe working practices, including how to undertake standard vehicle safety checks. They progress to more complex learning including how to transport different types of loads safely and securely.

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better?

Most learners make at least expected progress in developing their knowledge and skills and most achieve their qualifications. However, a few instructors do not plan individual learning for the very few learners who have previous experience and knowledge and who are, therefore, capable of more rapid progress.

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better?

Instructors embed English and mathematics effectively into the curriculum. Learners on courses in driving good vehicles develop their mathematical skills by checking axle 16 and 17 April 2024

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weights using standard formulas in order to calculate the maximum loads for different vehicles. Learners gain an understanding of industry-specific terminology, such as carriage plate, chain pulleys and hydraulics.

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Learners benefit from effective support from instructors, including those with additional needs and those whose first language is not English. Instructors encourage learners with autism to take regular breaks and promote collaborative learning to increase social interaction among these learners and engagement with their peers. Learners whose first language is not English are supported to enhance their English skills through using translation applications to develop their understanding of unfamiliar words and spellings.

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Staff provide useful careers information to help learners plan their next steps. Instructors share their experience of working in the sector and provide information about employment vacancies and other courses that learners can complete. For example, learners can progress to other training courses such as operating a cherry picker and driving heavy goods vehicles. Learners benefit from support from the National Careers Service, which help them to complete curriculum vitae and application forms and access information about job opportunities in the transportation and logistics industry.

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Most learners successfully develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to complete their course successfully and achieve their qualification. A high number progress to further training and a few gain employment.

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Leaders recognise that they would benefit from having external experts to monitor the quality of the provision and challenge them to make continued improvements.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have in place a ‘Prevent’ duty action plan to help keep learners safe from radicalisation and extremism. They recognise that the plan needs further work to cover all the threats that they may face. They intend to work with the regional Prevent coordinator to make sure that the plan is accurate and covers all the possible threats.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure that the evaluation of teaching practice focuses on reviewing instructors’ teaching skills so that instructors know what they need to do to improve.  Ensure that instructors benefit from appropriate pedagogical training.  Ensure that instructors plan individual learning for the very few learners who have previous experience and knowledge so that these learners make swifter progress. 16 and 17 April 2024

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 Ensure that the ‘Prevent’ duty action plan is accurate and covers all the possible threats that the provider may face.  Put in place arrangements for external scrutiny so that leaders are supported and challenged about the quality of education that they provide and continue to make improvements. 16 and 17 April 2024

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Provider details

Address Unit 6, Wesley Way Benton Square Industrial Estate Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 9TA

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Dates of previous inspection 27 and 28 October 2020 16 and 17 April 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was the second short inspection carried out since Health and Safety Training Limited was judged to be good in October 2020.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the managing director, 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

Philippa Firth, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector Jacquie Brown His Majesty's Inspector Neil Clark Ofsted Inspector 16 and 17 April 2024

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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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