Cheshire East Council

Further education and skills inspection report

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Short inspection of Cheshire East Council

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Outcome

Cheshire East Council continues to be a good provider.

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Information about this provider

Cheshire East Council manages Cheshire East Skills and Lifelong Learning (CESLL). Since the previous inspection in June 2017, CESLL has restructured the service. All courses are now subcontracted to six subcontractors. CESLL offer a range of courses with and without qualifications. CESLL offer courses from pre-entry level to level 2. Most learners, on courses with qualifications, study at level 1 or level 2. Most learners study courses in construction, health and social care, functional skills English and mathematics, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and essential digital skills. Leaders have imminent plans in place to offer courses for learners with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Learning takes place at subcontractor premises or through distance learning. At the time of the inspection, there were 189 learners. Forty-five learners were studying on tailored learning courses and 144 were studying on adult learning courses.

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

Learners who study at CESLL come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and countries. Most are resettlers from Ukraine, Hong Kong, Turkey, Afghanistan, Syria, India, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and Ethiopia. Learners study on courses such as ESOL because they want to communicate effectively when they are shopping, attending medical appointments, or speaking to their children’s teachers at school.

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

Learners enjoy attending courses because they develop new knowledge and apply their newly acquired skills. They have high attendance to lessons and arrive at classrooms and online learning sessions punctually. Learners are motivated to succeed. Most learners remain on their courses and achieve their qualifications.

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

Learners feel safe and know how to report any concerns they may have about themselves or others. Learners on digital skills courses know how to keep themselves safe online by having secure passwords and not opening suspicious emails. 2 and 3 October 2024

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better?

Leaders have a clear rationale for their adult curriculums. Most learners study on courses to help them move closer to the job market or to help them to become active members of their local communities. Learners on courses with qualifications are keen to achieve qualifications that will help them get jobs. They want to increase their earning potential and improve their lives.

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better?

Learners benefit from trusting relationships with their tutors. Tutors care about their learners and want them to do well. This helps learners grow in confidence and learn to believe in themselves and their abilities to succeed. Learners on digital skills courses apply for jobs using online application forms, learners on ESOL courses confidently speak to their doctor or children’s school teacher, and learners on functional skills mathematics courses help their children with mathematics homework.

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better?

Tutors accurately assess what learners know and can do at the start of their course. However, managers do not ensure that tutors in ESOL use this information to plan learning and teach lessons that meet the individual development needs of learners quickly enough.

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better?

Tutors use a variety of effective teaching strategies to teach learners, such as audio clips in ESOL to listen to pronunciation, tone and intonation of words and phrases, and individual and group discussions and reference guides in digital skills and functional skills mathematics to help learners recognise and remember key terms. Tutors frequently check and consolidate learning to assess gaps in learners’ knowledge. For example, in ESOL, tutors effectively check that learners know that a niece is your sister’s or brother’s daughter, and a grandson is your child’s son. ESOL learners extend their vocabulary and correctly and confidently apply new terminology.

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better?

Managers work with a specialist partner to provide learners with effective advice and guidance to help them to find jobs or improve employment prospects. The partner helps learners to complete job applications. Learners have useful mock interviews with the partner, who provides comprehensive feedback on how learners can improve their interview techniques. Most learners who apply for jobs secure paid employment.

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better?

Managers informally gather information from partners about where learners move on to such as further courses, jobs or volunteering after completing their courses with CESLL. However, managers do not have an accurate picture of what learners do next to plan further learning or improve the curriculums for the courses that they offer.

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better?

Leaders and managers have implemented rigorous quality assurance processes, including self-assessment. They have comprehensive oversight of the quality of 2 and 3 October 2024

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subcontracted provision. They hold subcontractor leaders and staff to account for the quality of education that learners receive.

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Those responsible for governance are experienced in their roles. They have significant experience and expertise in education, regeneration and skills, and work with East Cheshire family hubs. Governors receive detailed information from managers that enables them to provide effective scrutiny and challenge and hold managers to account for their actions.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure ESOL tutors use information about what learners know and can do at the start of their course to swiftly develop individualised learning plans for learners and to plan learning.  Update how managers capture information about where learners move on to after completing their courses with CESLL. 2 and 3 October 2024

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Provider details

Address Delamere House, Delamere Street Crewe CW1 2LL

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Provider details

Website https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schools/l ifelong_learning/lifelong_learning

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team manager

Date of previous inspection 14 and 15 June 2017

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team manager

Main subcontractors Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre (CHAWREC) Cheshire Learning Partnership Create and Develop Career Solutions East Cheshire Training Speaking Up, Speaking Out (SUSO) The Skills Network 2 and 3 October 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was the first short inspection carried out since Cheshire East Council was judged to be good in June 2017.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the contracts manager and interim team manager, 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

Anita Pyrkotsch-Jones, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Zoe Ibbotson His Majesty’s Inspector Kim Bleasdale His Majesty’s Inspector Nicola Welland Ofsted Inspector 2 and 3 October 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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