D & A Training & Assessment Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of D & A Training & Assessment Ltd

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Apprenticeships Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

D&A Training and Assessment Ltd is an independent learning provider based in Chippenham. It began offering standards-based apprenticeships in September 2022. At the time of the inspection, 15 apprentices were studying the construction plant operative apprenticeship at level 2. Apprentices undertake training at the provider’s training centre in Chippenham. All apprentices are aged 19 or over. All apprentices speak English as a second or other language. 29 to 31 October 2024

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

Apprentices do not study a well-planned curriculum. They learn new knowledge, skills and behaviours in construction, but do not achieve their qualifications by their planned training end dates. They do not receive sufficient support from staff to help them to achieve all their qualifications.

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

Apprentices are made to feel welcome by their assessors, who create an inclusive environment. Apprentices enjoy their learning. They attend well and are punctual to their lessons. Apprentices are motivated to do well in their course. This is because assessors provide useful guidance to apprentices on how their new construction knowledge, skills and behaviours will help to improve their future career prospects. Apprentices increase their confidence and resilience by applying their new learning at construction sites.

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

Apprentices develop respectful working relationships with their assessors. They feel safe and know how to contact their assessor if they have a welfare concern. This is because assessors place an important focus on what they identify to be current well- being issues in the construction industry, such as suicide prevention.

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better?

Leaders and managers do not provide apprentices with a logically planned and effectively sequenced apprenticeship curriculum. They have been too slow to put in place effective teaching on courses leading to English and mathematics qualifications. At the time of the inspection, leaders had begun to put this in place, but for most apprentices it was too late into their training. Leaders and managers do not robustly assess and evaluate the quality of their apprenticeship provision to make timely improvements where necessary. This contributes to too many apprentices not making the progress in learning English and/or mathematics and in achieving their qualifications in the expected timeframe.

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better?

Leaders and managers do not ensure that professional development for staff is well targeted and leads to continuous improvement in the quality of teaching and learning. For example, leaders and managers do not provide assessors with the training they need to meet all of their apprentices’ needs, such as supporting effectively apprentices who speak English as a second or other language. Because of this, apprentices have difficulty in reading instructions and writing responses to their assessment questions, contributing towards them making slow progress.

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better?

Leaders and managers work closely with employers to identify the construction plant resources and skills that apprentices need to be trained to use. This means that apprentices use up-to-date machinery that is equipped with technological advancements in their practical learning sessions. For example, apprentices learn to use a modern dumper truck on a wide variety of terrain, such as soft ground and inclines. 29 to 31 October 2024

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Assessors are qualified teachers and are vastly experienced and knowledgeable in using construction plant machinery. They provide useful explanations to apprentices to practise their work-related tasks using the correct procedures and to ensure their safety. For example, apprentices learn how to maintain three points of contact when entering and exiting diggers to reduce their chances of injury.

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Assessors use learning activities that enable apprentices to retain knowledge of operating construction plant equipment and machinery. Apprentices gradually develop the competence and confidence to apply their learning in the workplace. For example, apprentices demonstrate their knowledge and skills at traffic marshalling by practising the different signals that they need to know in a safe environment at the training site under the guidance of their assessor.

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Assessors do not gather useful information about apprentices’ knowledge and skills in English and mathematics at the start of their courses. They do not plan their teaching based on a robust assessment of the knowledge and skills of English and mathematics that apprentices already have. Too often, assessors do not identify spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors in their apprentices’ assessments.

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Assessors provide apprentices with useful feedback on the standard of their practical application of plant machinery knowledge and skills. This ensures that apprentices make the necessary improvements to become competent construction plant operators. For example, assessors provide useful feedback to apprentices who are adhering to excavation procedures when practising at the training site.

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Assessors work well with employers to ensure that apprentices get the experiences they need to complete the apprenticeship. Because of this, apprentices value the opportunities they receive to apply their new knowledge and skills in the workplace, such as using a forklift or ride-on roller.

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Assessors provide most apprentices with useful careers advice and guidance. However, leaders and managers rightly recognise that a more systematic approach is required so that apprentices know the full range of training and employment opportunities available to them.

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Assessors ensure that most apprentices know about the dangers of radicalisation and extremism in a way that is meaningful for them. As a result, most apprentices know the signs to look out for when at their workplace.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Teach a well-planned curriculum so that apprentices are supported effectively to make good progress and to achieve their qualifications within their identified training timeframes. 29 to 31 October 2024

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 Identify the learning needs of apprentices who require functional skills qualifications in English and/or mathematics at the start of their course and provide timely and effective support.  Provide assessors with ongoing training and support to develop their teaching skills further.  Improve the oversight that leaders have of the quality of teaching and take effective remedial action where necessary to improve apprentices’ experiences. 29 to 31 October 2024

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Provider details

Address Star Farm Chippenham Road Marshfield Chippenham SN14 8LH

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Bogdan Oslobanu

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected 29 to 31 October 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the company director, 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

Matt Hann, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Errol Ince Ofsted Inspector 29 to 31 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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