Playback Studio Ltd

Playback Studio Ltd Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Claudia Harrison, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

39 Brookmill Road Deptford London SE8 4HU Monitoring visit: Playback Studio Ltd, 22 and 23 July 2024

p.1

Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of adult learning provision where the provision offered is in scope for inspection. 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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Playback Studio Ltd is an independent training provider based in Deptford, south east London. Playback Studio started teaching Skills Bootcamps in games, digital marketing and information technology (IT) technical sales in February 2024. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 11 adult learners on the 8-week long IT technical sales Skills Bootcamp.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Training takes place face-to-face at a training centre in Deptford with some sessions online.

p.2

Significant progress

Leaders and managers use labour market information highly effectively to develop Skills Bootcamps that match London’s skills priorities and local demand. The Skills Bootcamp in IT technical sales prepares adult learners for jobs in an area with labour shortages. The curriculum meets the needs of local unemployed and self-employed adults extremely well.

p.2

Significant progress

Leaders and managers recruit learners who are traditionally less likely to participate in sales, games or marketing. They use very effective social media marketing to reach underrepresented groups and use the expertise of external stakeholders, such as Women in Games. Around half of the learners in IT technical sales are women and the majority of Skills Bootcamps learners are from underrepresented minority groups.

p.2

Significant progress

Leaders and managers have built strong links with employers. They frequently adapt and update their curriculums to incorporate the skills employers look for when they recruit employees. For example, IT sales employers advised leaders to incorporate more training on cold calling skills, which leaders did swiftly and effectively. This means that the curriculum content is relevant and helps prepare learners well for the realities of the fast-paced sales sector. Staff work very effectively with employers to Monitoring visit: Playback Studio Ltd, 22 and 23 July 2024 make sure that learners have job interviews. A high proportion of learners receive job offers. Learners benefit greatly from the highly effective employer input.

p.2

Significant progress

Leaders and managers have invested well in high-quality resources, such as industry- standard studio facilities, computers and online training videos. Learners benefit considerably because they can use the resources to practise their skills and search for jobs during and after their course.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed a well-sequenced curriculum. For example, in IT technical sales, tutors teach learners about marketing models, theory and language before doing practical work on cold-calling techniques and conducting client meetings. This helps learners new to gaming, marketing or sales to develop relevant new knowledge and skills.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have suitable arrangements for identifying learners’ prior knowledge and motivation at the start of their course. However, managers and tutors do not always use this information well enough to plan how they will teach and support learners, such as those who speak English as an additional language. As a result, a small minority of learners do not have the right level of support at the start of the course and make slow progress.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors are well qualified and have current industry experience. They teach lessons that help learners to remember new knowledge and skills. For example, they ask learners to prepare and deliver presentations where they apply different sales techniques. Learners remember what they have been taught and build their new knowledge and skills quickly over the weeks.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders, managers and tutors monitor learners’ progress well. For example, tutors use artificial intelligence tools effectively to measure learners’ progress in making practise cold calls. Tutors quickly intervene to provide useful feedback to learners who find it difficult to make successful calls. This contributes to learners improving their skills rapidly in their training sessions.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors and engagement officers give learners good advice on CV writing, job search and career openings during the course and after it finishes. Staff arrange trips to job fairs, where learners meet and talk to prospective employers. As a result, learners have a sound understanding of the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to find jobs. Monitoring visit: Playback Studio Ltd, 22 and 23 July 2024

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have devised and implemented suitable safeguarding policies and procedures and implemented these effectively. They developed suitable arrangements to establish whether their learners are vulnerable and to keep them safe. For example, staff screen computer activity carefully to keep learners safe online. Learners feel safe at the training centre.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers understand and respond positively to their responsibilities regarding the ‘Prevent’ duty. They have a suitable risk assessment and know the risks that relate to their learners. Well-trained staff teach learners about the risks of radicalisation and extremism early in their course. However, they do not revisit this content well enough later in the course. A small minority of learners do not recall the details of their training. Monitoring visit: Playback Studio Ltd, 22 and 23 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

p.4

Reasonable progress

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.

p.5

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 .

p.5

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 .

p.5

Reasonable progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5