Channicool Training Services Limited

Channicool Training Services Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Clifford Shaw, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 2 Broadley Court Parkwood Close Roborough Plymouth PL6 7SQ Monitoring visit: Channicool Training Services Limited, 7 and 8 August 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

Channicool Training Services Limited (CTSL) is an independent learning provider. CTSL was awarded a direct contract to provide standards-based apprenticeships in June 2023. At the time of the inspection, 43 apprentices were studying the refrigeration air conditioning and heat pump engineering technician apprenticeship at level 3. Leaders teach apprentices from 27 employers located across England. Nearly all apprentices are aged 19 and over. Four apprentices are aged 17 and 18.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are knowledgeable about the apprenticeship they provide. They use their extensive experience of refrigeration and air-conditioning industries well to plan training that meets the skills requirements of employers. For example, apprentices learn basic hand and tool skills such as cutting, flaming and pressure testing before completing more challenging tasks such as servicing and installing systems. Leaders are taking action to recruit professionals from industry to help strengthen governance arrangements by providing them with external and independent scrutiny, support and challenge.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices receive practical training in a well-equipped workshop. Apprentices use this facility to learn how to install and maintain a wide range of new and older refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. They are prepared well to competently complete technical tasks in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and tutors assess apprentices’ starting points well. They use this information to plan on- and off-the-job training effectively so that apprentices gain new knowledge and skills. For example, apprentices shadow more experienced work colleagues to learn about new systems, are given responsibilities to carry out tasks Monitoring visit: Channicool Training Services Limited, 7 and 8 August 2024 independently and attend courses provided by product manufacturers to deepen their knowledge.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a broad understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the apprenticeship they teach. However, leaders recognise rightly that the assessment they make of the effectiveness of the provision is too often descriptive and lacks self- criticism. This means that leaders do not prioritise the areas for improvement well enough so that they can focus on the actions that will be most impactful.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that tutors receive the professional development they need to maintain and improve their technical knowledge. For example, tutors deepen their knowledge of installation and maintenance by working in the industry for fixed periods. However, leaders recognise rightly that tutors require further training in teaching skills, for example in how to use digital classroom technologies effectively as part of their teaching.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices value highly the training they receive from their tutors. Tutors use workplace scenarios very effectively to teach apprentices how to assess and resolve the technical problems they may encounter at work. Tutors create learning tasks that require apprentices to find faults and solve problems when installing or maintaining refrigeration and air-conditioning units. Tutors make good use of mock examinations and revision tasks to help apprentices retain knowledge and be well prepared for their examinations.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices enjoy taking part in the technical workshops at CTSL. They practise on, and become familiar with, a wide range of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and components before applying their knowledge and skills at work. Apprentices are well prepared for working on the different systems in manufacturing, farm and livestock, health care and retail settings.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors work closely with employers to plan apprentices’ on-the-job training so that they gain new knowledge and skills. For example, tutors and workplace supervisors increase the responsibilities apprentices are given at work to carry out complex tasks independently such as testing for and diagnosing leaks in refrigeration systems.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors involve employers fully in the frequent reviews of apprentices’ progress. However, the targets that tutors set for apprentices do not tell them how to improve their knowledge, skills and behaviours and, as a result, a small minority of apprentices do not make the progress they are capable of. Monitoring visit: Channicool Training Services Limited, 7 and 8 August 2024 Teaching of English and mathematics is effective. Tutors correct apprentices’ written and spoken English, and apprentices use technical vocabulary accurately and fluently when communicating with customers and writing technical reports. Tutors teach apprentices how to use mathematical formulas to calculate the output of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems in different settings and environmental conditions. However, tutors do not ensure that the few apprentices who need to gain a qualification in English and/or mathematics achieve within the expected timescales.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that all staff receive appropriate training to support the well-being of their apprentices. The designated safeguarding lead is suitably trained. Leaders have created a positive culture of safeguarding where apprentices know how to report concerns and are confident that they will be supported.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe and know how to keep themselves safe in training and at work. Apprentices have a good knowledge of how to keep themselves safe from the risks of radicalisation and extremism. In the very few instances where apprentices declare a concern, tutors ensure that they receive highly effective support to be kept safe. Monitoring visit: Channicool Training Services Limited, 7 and 8 August 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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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