Logistics Skills and Consultancy Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Logistics Skills and Consultancy Limited

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Adult learning programmes Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

Logistics Skills and Consultancy is a well-established independent learning provider based in North Shields. Specialising in logistics, warehousing and transport, it provides small-group training for adults aiming to gain employment in the logistics sector.

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Information about this provider

The provider offers a skills bootcamp in large goods vehicle (LGV) driving for rigid- body and articulated trucks taught over 12 to 16 weeks. There is also a ‘routeways’ programme leading to qualifications that include the level 2 award in warehousing principles. This programme is around four-weeks long, and most learners are referred directly from Jobcentre Plus. At the time of the inspection, there were six adult learners on the ‘routeways’ programme and fewer than five on the skills bootcamp. During the current academic year, around 100 learners have been enrolled. 18 to 20 June 2024

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

Learners achieve very highly, with virtually all completing their programmes successfully. On the ‘routeways’ programme, all learners achieve their qualifications and move on to the next stage of training, either in car driving, operating a forklift truck or the skills bootcamp for LGV driving. On the skills bootcamp, all learners gain their LGV C+E licence, often at their first attempt and with high scores. A high proportion of learners progress into employment, mainly in the logistics sector.

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

Learners are prepared exceptionally well for future employment in the logistics sector. They gain a realistic understanding of what it will be like working in warehouses and driving for a living. For example, leaders have created a mock transport office at the skills bootcamp training centre so that learners experience signing out their keys, finding their allocated trailer and coupling different types of trailers safely.

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

Learners value the very welcoming, safe and supportive environment created by leaders and tutors, particularly learners who are returning to learning after a period of unemployment. Leaders and tutors know their learners well and nurture them as individuals, inspiring in them hope and ambition for the future. Learners discover valuable talents and develop a keen interest in the logistics sector as a result of the passion and dedication of leaders and tutors.

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

Learners benefit from a consistently high level of respect between peers and staff and an unwavering belief from leaders and tutors that all learners will be successful. Learners are highly motivated, not only to achieve but to improve themselves as professionals. They complete additional work outside learning sessions and support each other, including through informal peer mentoring.

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

Learners, many of whom have experienced significant barriers to employment, value the high-quality education that they receive and their positive experience on their programmes. Tutors adapt the provision in response to each individual’s need to find the best approach to help learners succeed, such as creating a form of sign language specific to LGV driving for a learner with profound deafness. Learners grow significantly in confidence and resilience during their time on programme. They frequently describe the opportunities afforded to them as ‘life-changing’.

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better?

Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of employers and targets specific skills shortages in the region. They have developed strong relationships with employers and have a thorough understanding of what is needed in the industry. Leaders and tutors use their own expertise in the sector to support learners in developing into well-rounded professionals who can gain and sustain employment. 18 to 20 June 2024

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Committed governors bring valuable knowledge and skills, including in education, equality and diversity, and employment law. They understand their roles well and provide good support for leaders and effective scrutiny. Governors have confidence in leaders as the provision steadily grows.

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Leaders have thorough oversight of their provision and know their learners and staff very well. Throughout the organisation, they instil a culture of collaboration, trust and continuous improvement. They eagerly invite external scrutiny to find ways to improve because, although they are rightly proud of their provision, they want to continue improving to benefit their learners.

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Leaders have sound quality assurance processes in place which lead to improvements. They work effectively with partner providers on joint observations of teaching and staff training. They took decisive and rapid action last year to extend the range of teaching strategies used by their tutors, which has resulted in improvements in learners’ progress and achievement.

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Leaders and tutors are highly experienced in the logistics industry, are respected in their field and have deep understanding of the sector. Tutors keep their sector- specific knowledge and skills up to date through useful training and by continuing to work in the sector. They also develop their teaching skills in collaboration with their provider partners, such as completing training in becoming ‘numeracy champions’.

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Tutors plan learning exceptionally well, which enables learners to make rapid progress. On the ‘routeways’ programme, tutors teach learners about different logistics settings and the environmental impact of logistics, before combining these topics to look at sustainability issues in various parts of the sector. Tutors revisit key topics repeatedly to ensure that important knowledge and skills are understood and remembered.

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Leaders recruit learners who are suitable for their programmes, ensuring that new recruits have the potential to learn substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours on their programme. Potential learners attend an ‘awareness day’ prior to enrolment so that they understand the expectations of the programme and alternatives offered by other providers and are able to make an informed choice. Tutors measure learners’ starting points accurately at the beginning of their programmes and use this to plan individualised learning.

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Tutors use a range of teaching strategies very effectively, including group discussions, quizzes, skilful questioning and practical assessments. They use familiar real-world examples to explain complex concepts, such as loading bags on a pushchair which will tip when unbalanced before relating this idea to vehicles. Learners gain substantial new knowledge and skills securely in a short period of time.

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Tutors assess learners’ progress frequently and use this to adapt their teaching. They structure assessment to provide learners with sufficient time to practise a skill 18 to 20 June 2024

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repeatedly and independently. Learners value the helpful feedback that they receive, which supports their mastery of each element of their programme.

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Tutors skilfully develop learners’ English and mathematical skills as part of the curriculum. For example, learners on skills bootcamps can calculate the height of wagons and stopping distances and accurately convert between miles and kilometres. Learners on the ‘routeways’ programme develop their confidence in expressing themselves in writing, and their work becomes increasingly insightful and more clearly expressed.

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Learners develop extensive new knowledge and skills quickly and securely. For example, learners on the ‘routeways’ programme fully understand how the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 impacts on those working in logistics. Learners retain their knowledge after the end of their programmes and value its usefulness in their job roles, recognising their valuable new transferable skills.

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Learners develop a deep understanding of the realities of employment in logistics in modern Britain, working with people from a wide range of backgrounds in warehouses or building sites and providing high-quality customer service. They can clearly articulate the actions that they would take to keep themselves safe from, for example, terrorists, people traffickers and county lines gangs. They learn about staying healthy, such as ensuring that they get enough sleep when working long- haul and maintaining their mental well-being when working night shifts.

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Learners receive relevant and up-to-date careers advice and guidance, including through visits from the National Careers Service. They are prepared thoroughly for their next steps, gaining strong employability skills and a comprehensive knowledge of the options of working in the logistics industry. Learners have clear plans for their next steps and develop long-term career plans during their programmes.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 18 to 20 June 2024

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Provider details

Address Unit C24 Tromso Close Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate North Shields NE29 7XH

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Provider details

Website www.logisticsskillsconsultancy.com

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Jill Taylor and Paul Robertson

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected 18 to 20 June 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by a 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

Karen Anderson, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Suzanne Horner His Majesty’s Inspector Daniel Bowater Ofsted Inspector 18 to 20 June 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 looked after children, 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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