Community Training Portal Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

p.1

Short inspection of Community Training Portal Limited

p.1

Inspection dates: 15 and 16 October 2024

p.1

Outcome

Community Training Portal Limited (CTP) continues to be a good provider.

p.1

Information about this provider

CTP is an independent learning provider based in Nottingham. CTP offers community learning courses for adult learners at eight training sites in deprived communities nationally. They focus on areas such as English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), employability, and English and mathematics. The majority of teaching is online, which enables learners to progress at their own pace.

p.1

Information about this provider

At the time of the inspection, there were 300 learners in training. Of these, 100 learners study online entry to level 2 qualifications in English and mathematics. A further 129 study face-to-face ESOL courses. The remainder study online level 1 to 4 vocational courses, such as hairdressing, nail technology, cybersecurity and beauty therapy.

p.1

Information about this provider

There are no learners in receipt of high-needs funding. CTP does not work with any subcontractors.

p.1

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

Tutors are friendly and supportive. They support learners, who often face substantial challenges to learning, to value their classes, where they gain new knowledge and skills that help them to thrive.

p.1

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

Learners build their confidence and acquire the essential skills they need to settle in their local community. For example, most ESOL learners develop English skills that help them book appointments and become more confident to speak to friends and family in English. They participate well in activities such as volunteering in their local community. Staff provide learners who study online effective one-to-one support to help them study and gain new skills. They do this with patience and kindness.

p.1

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

Learners feel safe in the welcoming, family-like atmosphere. Learners value their caring tutors, who encourage them to report any concerns and seek immediate support with any issues that arise. They are confident that staff will take their concerns seriously and 15 and 16 October 2024

p.1

2

will refer them to relevant external agencies. Online learners understand how to keep themselves safe when they access training materials at the training sites or at home.

p.2

better?

Leaders focus their attention on helping adults who have not been in formal education recently. They have high expectations for their learners, most of whom are unemployed and have no previous qualifications. Leaders have strong relationships with local job centres to develop curriculums that prepare learners well for their next steps into employment or further study at higher levels. They design and plan courses to reduce social isolation and increase opportunities for hard-to-reach learners from deprived areas.

p.2

better?

The course content is well focused on the knowledge and skills that learners need to thrive in their community and future careers. Most ESOL learners develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills and study key topics such as rights and responsibilities at work, and domestic abuse. On the personal and social development course, learners develop the skills to become physically, emotionally and socially healthy, which prepares them well for careers in healthcare, childcare or as teaching assistants. Beauty courses, such as level 3 nail technology, focus on industry-specific skills and digital proficiency so that learners can showcase their work on social media and in commercial environments.

p.2

better?

Most tutors plan their courses well. They organise topics logically, to help learners develop their foundation knowledge first before learning more complex knowledge and skills. For example, learners who study level 1 functional mathematics learn the fundamentals such as fractions, percentages, and shape and space, before they move on to more complex data handling. Level 3 hairdressing learners first develop shampoo and conditioning skills before moving on to more advanced skills such as blow drying, styling or cutting skills.

p.2

better?

Most tutors use effective strategies to check and reinforce learners’ understanding of new topics. ESOL tutors ask follow-up questions to ensure that learners grasp the broader concept of lexical items, as well as correct pronunciation. Online learners receive self-marking feedback to identify errors. Tutors guide them to learn from their mistakes, offer coaching support or direct them to personalised revision materials.

p.2

better?

Tutors understand learners’ barriers to learning and additional needs well. They offer one-to-one support and provide accessibility tools on online platforms. Learners value the individual support that tutors provide.

p.2

better?

In most cases, the work set is of the appropriate level for learners based on their individual starting points. However, functional skills English work can be too demanding for those learners with limited spoken English. On entry 2 ESOL courses, tutors teach complex tenses before basic ones, which can overwhelm learners still mastering fundamental grammar. The individual and online teaching approaches used in classes delay a few learners to develop their English skills as quickly as they could. 15 and 16 October 2024

p.2

3

Most learners achieve well and develop detailed knowledge and skills from the curriculums that they study. Most learners achieve their learning aims and progress to positive destinations.

p.3

3

Learners benefit from appropriate advice about their next steps and future careers. Employment engagement officers provide effective personalised support for learners to explore their future options and plan how they can achieve them. Clear and helpful next steps flow charts help learners to understand what they need to do to move towards their long-term goals.

p.3

3

Governance arrangements are effective. The board meets quarterly and considers relevant topics, such as safeguarding, learner views and curriculum quality improvement. Governors have a good understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement. Leaders welcome the external challenge and scrutiny from educational experts to help them drive continuous improvement.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure that tutors provide more speaking activities in functional skills English classes to support learners’ oral language development.  Ensure that tutors teach grammar topics on ESOL entry 2 courses logically. 15 and 16 October 2024

p.3

Provider details

Address 2 Pelham Court Pelham Road Nottingham NG5 1AP

p.4

Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Sulcan Mahmood

p.4

Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

p.4

Provider details

Dates of previous inspection 27 February to 1 March 2019

p.4

Provider details

Main subcontractors None 15 and 16 October 2024

p.4

Information about this inspection

The inspection was the first short inspection carried out since Community Training Portal Limited was judged to be good in February 2019.

p.5

Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the quality 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.

p.5

Inspection team

Michael Worgs, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Sarah Houghton His Majesty’s Inspector Vicki Locke His Majesty’s Inspector Saul Pope His Majesty’s Inspector Jaswant Mann Ofsted Inspector 15 and 16 October 2024

p.5

6

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.

p.6

6

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.6

6

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.6

6

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

p.6

6

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

p.6