Poultec Training Limited

Poultec Training Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Michael Worgs, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: South Green Park Enterprise Centre Mattishall Dereham NR20 3YJ Monitoring visit: Poultec Training Limited, 9 and 10 April 2024

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Context and focus of visit

Poultec Training Limited (PLT) was inspected in June 2023. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in resolving the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Context and focus of visit

PLT is a large national independent learning provider, with two training centres based in Norfolk. Leaders provide apprenticeships and vocational study programmes for learners who previously were not in education, employment or training.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the inspection, there were 610 apprentices. Most study animal and agricultural apprenticeships. One hundred and ninety-five study the level 3 poultry technician, and 125 study the level 2 poultry worker. The remainder mainly study the level 3 business administrator, level 3 dental nurse and level 4 dental practice manager standards.

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Context and focus of visit

Forty learners attend study programme courses. Most study levels 1 to 3 in hairdressing and barbering. The remainder study level 1 or level 2 courses in motor vehicle, welding skills, exercise and fitness, hospitality and professional cookery.

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Context and focus of visit

There are no apprentices or study programme learners in receipt of high-needs funding. The provider does not work with any subcontractors.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors have recently started to use new systems to track attendance and identify trends for learners who may require intervention to help them follow the attendance policy. They actively encourage learners to attend their courses. They frequently contact learners who fail to attend and are fully aware of the reasons for non- attendance.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers carefully track why learners leave their course early. Leaders now ensure that learners are recruited onto the correct course. At the time of the visit, most learners were being retained on their courses. Monitoring visit: Poultec Training Limited, 9 and 10 April 2024 Since the previous inspection, leaders reviewed the study programme offer. They no longer offer courses that significantly underperform. Leaders ensure that tutors work closely with learners to support them on their current courses. Most learners achieve their milestone targets and qualifications successfully.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers provide targeted training to support tutors to develop effective teaching strategies. For example, tutors now use effective questioning to probe apprentices’ understanding of key concepts and challenge them to think about how they can apply their learning in the workplace. This helps apprentices develop suitable knowledge and skills to support their roles. For example, level 3 poultry technician apprentices have an in-depth understanding of the lighting requirements to support egg laying, how to identify issues with eggs that may impact their ability to hatch and how to rectify these issues if they persist.

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Reasonable progress

Managers work closely with tutors to ensure they provide apprentices with sufficient developmental feedback on their written work. They set clear expectations on the quality and timeliness of feedback. Most apprentices benefit from helpful feedback detailing what they have done well and what they need to improve. As a result, most apprentices’ written work improves over time, and they make the expected progress.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors work effectively with line managers to plan off-the-job activities to consolidate apprentices’ theoretical learning. In most cases, line managers attend reviews to plan a range of activities such as job shadowing or working in different parts of the business. This supports apprentices to apply what they learn at work.

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Reasonable progress

First time pass rates for English and mathematics show rapid improvement. Managers track trends in achievement rates for English and mathematics to identify themes for further staff training. English and mathematics specialists provide training to help tutors teach and support learners and apprentices develop their English and mathematics skills within their sessions. Tutors, for example, are better able to identify opportunities to develop apprentices’ English and mathematics fluency alongside their work-based skills. Tutors confidently identify and correct grammatical errors in learners’ and apprentices’ written work. Monitoring visit: Poultec Training Limited, 9 and 10 April 2024

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Reasonable progress

Following the previous inspection, leaders have implemented a new personal development curriculum focused on key themes for each month. There is now a robust plan in place to cover core personal development topics across all apprenticeship standards. The curriculum now includes mandatory content taught during online and face-to-face sessions. Apprentices complete useful activities that include keeping healthy, safeguarding and fundamental British values.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors ensure that apprentices have a suitable understanding of broader risks of radicalisation and extremism relevant to the standards they study. For example, level 3 poultry apprentices have a good understanding of the influence and risk of animal rights groups in their industry.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have improved careers guidance for apprentices to include advice about future career options. New career champions ensure apprentices receive good career planning support throughout their apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have established a useful employer careers focus group, to discuss and plan internal progression opportunities for apprentices with their current employer. This ensures tutors are aware of the range of progression opportunities available to apprentices across a range of standards so they can provide relevant advice and support. A few apprentices have gained promotion with their employers.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have implemented a new observation process that provides feedback to tutors on their teaching practice. Managers use information from lesson observations effectively to strengthen teaching and support areas for improvement through targeted training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have taken suitable steps to develop new systems and processes for reporting on attendance, achievement and retention data. They are now able to closely monitor key management information to make accurate decisions about how learners and apprentices perform on specific courses. Monitoring visit: Poultec Training Limited, 9 and 10 April 2024

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have established an effective governance board. Governors have the appropriate skills and expertise to support leaders to improve. They understand the strengths and areas for improvement within the curriculum well.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders provide governors with up-to-date key performance information such as the attendance, retention, progress and achievement of learners and apprentices. Governors have supported leaders to develop a more robust quality improvement plan. Governors meet frequently to discuss the curriculum and further challenge leaders to improve. Monitoring visit: Poultec Training Limited, 9 and 10 April 2024 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

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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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