AM 2 PM Group Holdings Limited

AM 2 PM Group Holdings Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Stuart Collett, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider Address: Units 1 & 2 Three Spires House Station Road Lichfield WS13 6HX Monitoring visit: AM 2 PM Group Holdings Limited, 4 and 5 December 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

AM 2 PM Group Holdings Limited (AM2PM) is an independent learning provider that began offering apprenticeships as an employer provider in September 2023. Since then, the provider has been successful in becoming a main provider in August 2024. AM2PM took over the training of a cohort of existing apprentices, who were their own employees, from another provider and supported them to complete their apprenticeships throughout 2024. Since becoming a provider, leaders have enrolled one new cohort alongside the existing apprentices, all of whom are also existing AM2PM employees. Leaders have not yet enrolled apprentices who are not their own employees, though they plan to start this shortly.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the visit, there were 12 apprentices, all over the age of nineteen. Of these, seven were studying level 2 recruitment resourcer and the remaining five were studying level 5 operations/departmental manager. All five of the level 5 operations/departmental manager apprentices were preparing for their end-point assessments, having started their apprenticeship with another provider.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers articulate a clear rationale for the apprenticeships they have chosen to offer. They are in the process of working with their customers to develop and offer a suite of apprenticeships that will help to reduce the skills gaps in the supply chain industry while continuing to offer courses that develop skills in their existing workforce.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers have significant experience in the vocational areas they teach. For example, on the level 2 recruitment resourcer apprenticeship, apprentices learn from well-qualified professionals who have substantial experience in the sector and bring a wealth of contextual knowledge to their teaching.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place suitable quality assurance arrangements to allow them to Monitoring visit: AM 2 PM Group Holdings Limited, 4 and 5 December 2024 monitor the quality of education they provide. They have recruited staff with experience of quality assurance in further education, who frequently conduct activities such as observations of teaching and work scrutiny. They use the results of these activities well to develop and implement plans to bring about improvements.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders rightly recognise that as they begin to offer apprenticeships externally, work needs to be done to ensure that the quality of education they offer their own staff is maintained. New curriculum plans and enhanced quality assurance procedures are currently in development to give leaders the confidence that their apprenticeship quality meets their aspirations.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place effective arrangements for the external scrutiny of their apprenticeships. They work with specialists from the education sector who have supported leaders on their journey from employer provider to full provider status. They have now formalised the governance role, ensuring that they are sufficiently independent to offer appropriate support and challenge to leaders as their apprenticeships continue to increase.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed well-ordered and adaptable curriculums that are designed to equip apprentices with the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to further their careers. Teachers use a blend of online and face-to-face teaching to meet apprentices’ needs. They take into account seasonal working demands to minimise the impact of teaching on busy working periods, while ensuring apprentices have the opportunity to participate fully in their learning.

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Reasonable progress

Most teachers ensure that apprentices remember key concepts and apply them fluently and consistently in the workplace. Most apprentices discuss their new knowledge confidently. They can provide clear examples of applying their learning in the workplace. For example, level 3 team leader and level 5 management apprentices have learned about personality profiling. They use the knowledge they have developed of self-awareness and collaboration styles in their management roles.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers measure effectively the vocational starting points of apprentices. However, more needs to be done to ensure that teachers use the results of these assessments to plan teaching and set targets for apprentices, including the development of mathematics and English skills, that challenge most able learners while providing appropriate support for those who need it.

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Reasonable progress

In a few instances in lessons, teachers do not check apprentices’ understanding or identify and correct misconceptions. In some lessons on level 2 recruitment resourcer, teachers do not use strategies to ensure their teaching is being Monitoring visit: AM 2 PM Group Holdings Limited, 4 and 5 December 2024 understood and retained. Consequently, they cannot be sure that apprentices are making progress in their learning.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices receive their entitlement to time away from the workplace to complete their studies. Teachers work with apprentices’ line managers to ensure that on- and off-the-job training are well coordinated and provide apprentices with opportunities in the workplace to practise their new knowledge and skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have appointed a suitably qualified and experienced designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy.

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Reasonable progress

The DSL has developed appropriately thorough policies and procedures for the recording and escalation of safeguarding concerns. They have ensured that all teaching staff have received appropriate safeguarding training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit staff safely. They have implemented an appropriate policy, which ensures that the appropriate checks are made prior to new staff members working with apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have an appropriate ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment. They provide useful information to apprentices on the risks of radical and extremist behaviours. However, too few apprentices understand the risks in their locality. Monitoring visit: AM 2 PM Group Holdings Limited, 4 and 5 December 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 looked after children, 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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