Wren Kitchens Limited

Wren Kitchens Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Hayley Lomas, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 11 and 12 September 2024

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Address:

The Nest Falkland Way Barton-upon-Humber DN18 5RL Monitoring visit: Wren Kitchen Limited, 11 and 12 September 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

Wren Kitchens Limited began providing apprenticeship to its own employees in May 2023. At the time of the inspection, there were 30 apprentices studying towards the level 2 urban driver standard. Apprentices are based in delivery warehouses across the country. All apprentices are over the age of 18.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for providing the level 2 urban driver apprenticeship programme. The company’s aim is to address a national shortage in delivery drivers by upskilling staff, many of whom are unqualified, and encouraging them to progress in their careers with the company. Apprentices are complimentary about the benefits of their learning, and all of the apprentices who have successfully completed their programme so far have been retained, with a few progressing to supervisory roles.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers provide tutors, who have extensive experience of the transport industry, with appropriate training. This includes training to develop their teaching practice through following courses on teaching and assessing. Tutors value the opportunity to keep their skills in professional driving up to date through refresher courses and working in transport management.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have an accurate oversight of the progress that apprentices make. Tutors have detailed knowledge of how well apprentices are developing their skills and knowledge and communicate this to their managers. When apprentices do not achieve components of their programme, such as failing a driving test, their tutor provides additional and effective support, which enables them to achieve at the second attempt.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have appropriate quality assurance processes in place. They conduct quality checks on tutors’ assessment decisions and visit lessons to observe Monitoring visit: Wren Kitchen Limited, 11 and 12 September 2024 teaching and learning. Managers support tutors to improve their teaching practice when required, which improves the experience of apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have in place appropriate internal governance arrangements. Governors are enthusiastic and committed to ensuring that apprentices get access to high-quality training so that they can gain their apprenticeship and progress in their careers. The information that governors receive is relevant and accurate but does not clearly demonstrate how much progress is being made by each apprentice or focus well enough on the impact of their learning. This limits governors’ ability to question leaders about the quality of the learning experience.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and tutors plan and implement an effective apprenticeship programme. They ensure that apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to become professional drivers. Tutors start by covering the theory of driving, before moving on to more practical elements, such as being able to conduct vehicle checks. They use effective teaching strategies to develop apprentices’ technical knowledge. Tutors plan regular knowledge checks in sessions to assess apprentices’ understanding. When apprentices have not fully understood something, they spend extra time revisiting the topic or concept.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and staff produce and use high-quality training materials to help explain technical terminology and legislation. They use recap activities to reinforce learning and build on what apprentices already know and can do. For example, they revisit the highway code and explain how it applies to workplace scenarios. Apprentices use this knowledge to understand aspects of their job role better, such as being aware of situations when they are permitted to unload on double yellow lines.

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Reasonable progress

Most tutors provide helpful feedback and encourage apprentices to revisit their work to improve it. However, in a few instances, feedback is not precise enough to identify how apprentices can expand their knowledge or improve further.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors support apprentices well to develop their professionalism and maturity. Apprentices become professional drivers once they pass their category C driving test. Tutors ensure that apprentices recognise the responsibility that the licence brings and, as a result, apprentices become more confident in their job roles and develop good daily routines, such as thorough morning vehicle checks.

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Reasonable progress

Transport managers value the training that their apprentices carry out and the information that they receive from tutors about the progress of their apprentices. They work closely with tutors to arrange additional sessions and time away from work if apprentices need more support. Transport managers provide opportunities in the workplace for apprentices to broaden their knowledge and develop their career Monitoring visit: Wren Kitchen Limited, 11 and 12 September 2024 opportunities. These include opportunities to work alongside a manager in a supervisory capacity, which enables apprentices to learn more about how the office function works in the transport industry.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers place a high priority on keeping apprentices safe. Members of the apprenticeship team complete training on topics, such as safeguarding, the ‘Prevent’ duty and counterterrorism. They use their knowledge to ensure that apprentices know who they can speak to if they have a concern.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed effective safeguarding procedures to record, report and deal with any concerns that apprentices may have. At the time of the visit, there had not been any reported concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers train apprentices well on the importance of health and safety. Apprentices understand fully how this topic relates to their job role. They learn how to keep themselves and other road users safe when driving. They also know what action they must take if an incident occurs or if they come across vulnerable customers during their deliveries. Monitoring visit: Wren Kitchen Limited, 11 and 12 September 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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