Construct Training Services Limited

Construct Training Services Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Vicki Locke, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 14 Beaumont Enterprise Centre Beaumont Leys Boston Road Leicester LE4 1HB Monitoring visit: Construct Training Services Limited, 2 and 3 July 2024

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Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and/or the apprenticeship levy. 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

Construct Training Services Limited provides apprenticeship training. It currently offers the level 2 highways maintenance skilled operative for one main employer, Leicester City Council. At the time of the visit, there were seven apprentices. All, apart from one, were aged over 18.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have suitable experience and expertise in the construction training sector. They have held roles such as training managers and quality coordinators, and have a track record of training in highways maintenance.

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Reasonable progress

Training staff hold appropriate qualifications. They have held previous training roles in highways maintenance or functional skills.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices’ training agreements clearly specify requirements, including off-the-job hours. Although current apprentices were all existing employees at the start of their studies, they had only relatively basic knowledge and skills.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from highly suitable training facilities, where they complete their off-the-job training. The practical working areas are well designed to enable apprentices to gain the skills they need. For example, there is an area for working on kerbs and paving, and dedicated areas for plant and traffic management training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders enjoy productive links with their main employer, Leicester City Council. This enables a degree of flexibility to be built into training. For example, if the employer requires apprentices for a job, trainers rearrange training. The reverse is also true: if trainers need more time with apprentices, the employer will release them. Monitoring visit: Construct Training Services Limited, 2 and 3 July 2024 Through their involvement in progress reviews, employers are well informed about how well apprentices are doing, and about any extra support they may need. If apprentices need more exposure to a particular task, the employer arranges it.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders monitor and review the quality of provision. They undertake observations of training and review apprentices’ folders. Trainers receive observation feedback, although few developmental actions are agreed. Leaders hold monthly management meetings, where they consider apprentices’ progress, along with topics such as health and safety and safeguarding.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders currently have no formal arrangements for external scrutiny of provision. They intend to utilise existing links with suitably experienced individuals.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders provide training that is well thought out and covers the full range of knowledge and skills required to be a highways maintenance skilled operative. The course includes several very useful additional qualifications in street works, first aid and the operation of plant equipment.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices attend the training centre each month on a block release basis, usually for three to four days. Training is well planned and covers topics in a logical order. As a result of this comprehensive training, apprentices successfully develop a wide array of new knowledge and skills.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have ample opportunities to practise in the workplace what they learn during their training days. Apprentices frequently use most of the skills that they develop within their day-to-day roles. Their employer is readily able to move apprentices to different teams so they can practise skills, such as block paving, that they use less frequently.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers and employers discuss with apprentices further training they may need for future roles in the organisation.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have recently appointed specialist staff to help apprentices develop their English and mathematical skills, and to prepare for forthcoming functional skills exams. However, these arrangements are not sufficiently robust. There is no clear plan for how these subjects will be taught. In classes, apprentices mainly complete questions from past papers. Several apprentices have weak English and mathematical skills, and there is not a clear approach about how to help them improve. Monitoring visit: Construct Training Services Limited, 2 and 3 July 2024 Apprentices revisit topics through reflection and review sessions during their course. Prior to end-of-course assessments, they undertake a range of revision activities. These allow apprentices to practise their skills and reinforce their knowledge. However, apprentices, their employer, and vocational trainers, are all unclear about the requirements of these assessments. Despite this, apprentices in the previous

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Reasonable progress

cohort successfully passed assessments, with a very small number achieving distinction grade.

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Reasonable progress

Safeguarding policies are appropriate and safer recruitment is thorough.

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Reasonable progress

Staff and safeguarding officers undertake suitable training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders use risk assessments and detailed step-by-step guidance to prescribe the safe working practices apprentices must follow.

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Reasonable progress

The ‘Prevent’ duty action plan clearly focuses on ways to ensure apprentices are well informed about relevant local risks.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from an induction that covers topics such as safe working practices, online safety and safeguarding. They receive a comprehensive handbook with relevant information, including external helplines.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers make welfare checks during progress reviews. Apprentices feel safe and know whom to contact if they have concerns. Monitoring visit: Construct Training Services Limited, 2 and 3 July 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 and child protection.

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Reasonable progress

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

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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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