Ellisons Commercial Training Ltd

Ellisons Commercial Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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

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Inspection date(s): 30 October and 31 October 2024

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Type of provider:

Address: Unit 5 Knights Road Chelston Business Park Wellington Somerset TA21 9JH Monitoring visit: Ellisons Commercial Training Limited, 30 and 31 October 2024

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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.

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Context and focus of visit

Ellisons Commercial Training Limited provide a Skills Bootcamp to train learners to drive large goods vehicles (LGVs). Learners complete LGV licences from category C to category C + E as part of the bootcamp. At the time of the monitoring visit 52 learners were studying the bootcamp. Around two thirds of learners were unemployed at the start of their studies. The remaining third were a combination of self-employed learners and those who were in employment and seeking to advance their qualifications and skills. The bootcamp is taught over eight consecutive weeks. Learners are taught the theory of driving in a classroom and receive practical driving instruction in the provider’s lorries.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have designed an ambitious Skills Bootcamp that teach learners new knowledge and skills. They collaborate well with employers to plan training which goes beyond the requirements of the LGV licence. For example, learners are taught how to secure curtains on lorry trailers and how to record their travel time, rest periods and work hours accurately. This helps learners to assimilate into job roles quickly on completion of the bootcamp.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are experienced in the transportation industry and understand well the need to tackle the challenges of an ageing workforce and national shortages of qualified drivers. Leaders work with employers and insurance companies to help learners who are under 25-years-of-age to secure the driving insurance cover they need to take up employment. Learners who are self-employed motor mechanics improve their businesses by becoming qualified to collect, deliver and road test the LGVs they maintain.

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Reasonable progress

Over three quarters of those learners who start the bootcamp achieve their personal goal of gaining employment, promotion at work or improving their business. All Monitoring visit: Ellisons Commercial Training Limited, 30 and 31 October 2024 learners who complete the bootcamp gain their LGV driving licence. A few learners do not complete their studies because of personal reasons.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders from the local authority and the regional training provider network provide rigorous external scrutiny and challenge by undertaking quality reviews of the bootcamp and holding monthly contract management meetings. They visit lessons and speak with learners to gain their feedback to provide leaders with sensible actions to improve the quality of training. Leaders closely monitor the progress learners are making with their studies. They arrange for extra help for learners such as more practical tuition and tips to prepare for written examinations.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers plan training carefully so that it is logically sequenced and builds upon learners’ prior knowledge and skills. Trainers assess learners’ starting points thoroughly at the beginning of the bootcamp to plan training that meets the needs of each learner. For example, learners with experience of driving tractors are assessed to determine if the practical driving training components can be completed more quickly.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers are knowledgeable and skilled driving instructors. They hold approved driving instructor (ADI) status and have extensive experience of working in the industry. Trainers plan training carefully so that learners quickly build their knowledge and confidence when progressing from theory to practical driving activities. They use roleplay effectively so that learners can practise what they have been taught such as how to prepare for and manage security checks international border crossings.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers teach learners how to maintain healthy lifestyles at work. Learners are taught about the importance of preparing their own meals so that they can eat healthily when at work. Trainers provide helpful careers advice and guidance to learners such as highlighting the differences between overnight and nine-to-five working hours so that learners make well-informed choices about their lifestyle and career.

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Reasonable progress

Learners enjoy their studies. They value how trainers use a social media platform to tell them about job vacancies and to answer their questions. Learners make effective use of a digital industry app to prepare for examinations and to consolidate what they are taught by their trainers. Trainers use their industry experience very effectively to provide learners with examples to deepen their knowledge. For example, they brief learners about how to drive in other countries and how to safely select lanes when approaching roundabouts in different sizes of vehicles.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers do not plan training so that learners can improve their English language and Monitoring visit: Ellisons Commercial Training Limited, 30 and 31 October 2024 mathematics. Trainers do not teach fundamental British values well enough so that learners retain this knowledge.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put age-appropriate arrangements in place to keep learners safe. They ensure that the staff they appoint are suitable to work with learners.

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Reasonable progress

Learners feel safe. They value the frequent checks trainers make on their wellbeing. Leaders plan training so that learners are taught about the risks of radicalisation, however, this is not revisited by trainers and, as a result, a minority of learners do not recall well enough important knowledge about how to keep safe in their personal lives and at work. Monitoring visit: Ellisons Commercial Training Limited, 30 and 31 October 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

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Reasonable progress

children's services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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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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