Vale Training Services Limited

Vale Training Services Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Carolyn Brownsea, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address: Marsh Hill Farm Marsh Aylesbury HP17 8ST Monitoring visit: Vale Training Services Limited, 4 and 5 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

Vale Training Services Limited (Vale Training) is a small, independent training provider based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Vale Training specialises in land- based qualifications such as livestock management, forestry, and plant and machinery qualifications. Leaders had recently received public funding to provide Skills Bootcamps in agriculture, which was the focus for this inspection. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were fewer than five learners enrolled on this training programme.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Highly experienced and knowledgeable leaders collaborate successfully with stakeholders, such as Buckinghamshire Better Business, to plan a curriculum that meets the needs of the agricultural and farming sectors. They focus keenly on training in health and safety, manual handling and safe working practices so as to help reduce the high number of injuries in these sectors. For example, leaders ensure that learners know how to spray crops in line with legislative changes and requirements.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and staff make sure that training meets learners’ individual needs and aspirations successfully. Leaders plan the curriculum so that learners gain valuable additional qualifications, such as emergency first aid, which helps learners to work more safely. Staff use effective checks on their starting points to plan training well. They collaborate with employers to help learners develop the appropriate behaviours and skills they need for current and future roles in the farming sector.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders provide learners with access to a working farm and industry-standard equipment. This helps learners gain valuable hands-on experience with tools and equipment commonly used in the sector, such as tractors, chainsaws and crop spraying equipment. This contributes to learners’ positive preparation for employment. Monitoring visit: Vale Training Services Limited, 4 and 5 December 2024 Leaders have an inconsistent understanding of the overall quality of the provision. While leaders have prioritised the quality of assessment, they do not focus on the quality of training and learning sufficiently well. This limits their ability to support trainers to develop their knowledge and skill in the craft of teaching, and to ensure the quality of learning materials, which are too variable.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Learners are committed to their learning and are highly motivated to achieve. They value the support that they receive from their trainers, which helps them to progress and remain in learning.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit learners carefully. They conduct interviews and assessments to plan personalised courses that meet learners’ needs and career aspirations. Where learners may have pre-existing knowledge, staff tailor learning so that learners deepen their knowledge and refine their skills. For example, staff teach experienced learners more advanced hay bailing practices.

p.3

Reasonable progress

In most instances, experienced and specialist staff use their knowledge to design and teach interesting and informative teaching sessions. They give helpful demonstrations on agricultural techniques and explain methods clearly and accurately. Staff use questioning skilfully to check learning and help learners understand key concepts. In a few instances, staff do not make fullest use of opportunities to help learners recall their training and practise their learning. Leaders are taking action to remedy this issue, but it is too early to see the impact of these actions.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Learners become increasingly confident and competent in using a variety of farming skills and techniques, such as cattle handling, all-terrain vehicle driving and operating heavy machinery safely and appropriately. Learners become more skilled farm workers and are given additional responsibility as a result. Staff help learners to improve their employability skills and to find work. Staff support them to write their CVs and practise for their interviews.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders prioritise learners’ safety and well-being. Suitably trained safeguarding staff identify, resolve and monitor safeguarding concerns effectively. Staff are safe to work with learners. Learners feel safe. They have a secure understanding of the risks they may face in the farming and agricultural sector. Monitoring visit: Vale Training Services Limited, 4 and 5 December 2024 Leaders are taking reasonable action to protect learners from the risks from radicalisation and extremism. Leaders have an inconsistent understanding of the local risks and areas where their learners live and work. This limits staff ability to work with learners in order to understand and respond to potential risks. Monitoring visit: Vale Training Services 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

p.3

Reasonable progress

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.

p.5

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