P34B Ltd

Name of lead inspector: Alison Humphreys, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Inspection dates: 17 and 18 December 2024

p.1

Address: 8 Market place Adlington Chorley PR7 4EZ Monitoring visit: P34B Ltd 17 and 18 December 2024

p.1

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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

P34B Ltd (P34B) is an employer provider based in Adlington, Lancashire. P34B began providing Skills Bootcamps for adult learners in the digital sector in July 2024. At the time of the visit there were less than five learners enrolled on the data analytics Skills Bootcamp.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for the Skills Bootcamps that they offer. They are passionate about providing training to learners that are unemployed to support employers to fill job roles in data analytics. Leaders work closely with key stakeholders, including employers and the Lancashire skills hub, to develop a curriculum that meets local and regional skills needs. This means that leaders provide employers with a pipeline of employees that are work ready.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum that provides learners with the skills required by industry. They have designed the curriculum around projects so that learners develop their knowledge of the fundamentals of project management in addition to their data analytical skills. Leaders have included a range of topics to develop learners’ personal and professional skills. Learners complete social media profiles, develop networking strategies and improve their time management skills. -.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders review the curriculum at the end of each course by using information such as learner feedback and destination outcomes. They use this to help them to adapt the curriculum for their next course. For example, leaders now include topics such as goal setting, elevated pitches and character profiling. This supports learners to develop a professional social media profile and complete job applications.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders are in the early stages of improving their quality assurance and improvement arrangements. They complete a range of informal activities to monitor the quality of education that learners receive. This means that they have a clear Monitoring visit: P34B Ltd 17 and 18 December 2024 understanding of most of the strengths and areas of weakness of Skills Bootcamps. Leaders recognise the need to monitor more closely the quality of training and feedback that learners receive.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit tutors that are experienced and qualified in the digital sector. They support tutors to update their skills through completing industry specific accredited qualifications and attending conferences and events on topics such as cybersecurity. However, leaders have not put in place training to develop tutors’ teaching skills further.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders sequence the curriculum sensibly so that learners incrementally build their knowledge and skills over time. Learners are first taught how to retrieve data and complete power queries. They then move on to manipulating data using time periods such as day and years.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders identify what learners already know and can do at the start of their course. They use this information to ensure that learners develop substantial new knowledge and skills because of the training that they receive. Learners talk confidently about data analytics and project management. They explain how they visualise data and use this to write professional reports.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors use demonstration and modelling effectively to ensure that learners develop new knowledge and skills swiftly. They demonstrate how to use data software accurately to complete visual calculations. Learners apply this to their own projects and use these tools to calculate data such as profit margins. Learners then move on to discussing the limitations of using visualisation tools and the impact this could have on their data analysis.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors use quizzes to check what learners know at the end of each topic. They use this information to revisit topics that learners find challenging. However, during sessions tutors do not use effective assessment strategies to identify gaps in knowledge or rectify misconceptions. This means that a few learners do not develop their skills as swiftly as they could.

p.3

Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead and safeguarding coordinator have received appropriate training to carry out their role effectively. They provide support to learners swiftly and signpost them to external agencies where appropriate. Leaders Monitoring visit: P34B Ltd 17 and 18 December 2024 are currently strengthening their recording processes so that more accurate records of learner support are maintained by staff.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Learners feel safe and know who to contact if they have any concerns. Leaders recognise that they need to provide further training to learners to ensure they have a full understanding of the local risks associated with radicalisation and extremism. Monitoring visit: P34B Ltd 17 and 18 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.4

Reasonable progress

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.5

Reasonable progress

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.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5