Lavender International NDT Consultancy Services Limited

Lavender International NDT Consultancy Services Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Hayley Lomas, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 17 and 18 December 2024

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Technology Centre Advanced Manufacturing Park Brunel Way Rotherham S60 5WG Monitoring visit: Lavender International NDT Consultancy Services Limited, 17 and 18 December 2024 2

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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

Lavender International NDT Limited was established in 1976 as a training organisation in non-destructive testing (NDT), examinations and consultancy services. In August 2023, it was approved as an apprenticeship provider. At the time of the visit, there were 134 apprentices, of whom 15 were on the level 2 NDT operator programme and 119 were on the level 3 NDT engineering technician programme. Just under half of the apprentices were under 19 years of age.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers have a clear rationale for the delivery of the two apprenticeships that they provide. They have selected, designed and implemented highly effective apprenticeships that benefit local, regional, national and international employer needs. Leaders work with employers to develop a pipeline of well-trained, experienced and talented engineers. They pride themselves on promoting the sector to stem the decline of an ageing workforce.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers are very ambitious for their apprentices. They provide high- quality training and education in an engineering sector where there is a high demand for relevant skills and knowledge. Leaders work with apprentices and employers to understand the requirements of their organisation and design individualised training programmes to meet the needs of the employer and the industry.

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Significant progress

At the start of the provider’s apprenticeship contract, leaders were asked to take on a large number of apprentices from a provider that had ceased trading. They identified and implemented clear and appropriate actions for these apprentices, many of whom were disengaged, to enable them to complete their programmes successfully. This was achieved through careful monitoring and clear target-setting. Leaders have continued to implement this approach, and all current apprentices are on track to achieve within planned timescales. Monitoring visit: Lavender International NDT Consultancy Services Limited, 17 and 18 December 2024 3 Leaders and managers have appointed staff who are well trained and highly qualified for their roles. Staff demonstrate excellent subject knowledge when teaching. Apprentices and employers value the expertise and industrial experience of staff who help apprentices to develop a deep understanding of the topics that they study.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers provide apprenticeship staff with helpful training to continue to develop their professional knowledge, update their skills and enhance their teaching.

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Significant progress

Leaders, managers and those responsible for governance are highly committed to the success of the apprenticeship programmes they offer. They have very high expectations of apprentices and support them well to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to be successful in the future. Leaders know what they do well and have an unrelenting focus on continuous improvement and a clear emphasis on delivering a very high standard of training to apprentices.

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Significant progress

Teachers sequence the curriculum very effectively so that apprentices incrementally learn new knowledge, skills and behaviours and transfer learning and skills to their long-term memory. This supports apprentices to understand and demonstrate key concepts prior to moving on to the implementation of these approaches in the workplace. Tutors begin by teaching safe working practices, enabling apprentices to become effective at work quickly. They then move on to the history of testing before progressing to product technology, testing equipment, understanding methods and practical training.

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Significant progress

Teachers use initial assessment effectively to identify apprentices’ starting points and plan future learning. Skills deficits and previous subject experience are identified in the induction phase to ensure programmes are designed to meet apprentices’ individual needs and the requirements of their employers. Tutors assess accurately the needs of apprentices with learning difficulties or barriers to learning and provide them with appropriate support.

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Significant progress

Tutors coordinate on- and off-the-job training well. They work with employers to ensure that what they are teaching is in line with activities that apprentices complete in the workplace. Tutors work closely with employers to provide a structured plan to enable apprentices to make the progress of which they are capable. They ensure that employers are aware of upcoming topics and have a good understanding of the exposure to tasks that apprentices need during their on-the-job training.

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Significant progress

Tutors carry out well-structured progress reviews with apprentices and employers that focus on knowledge and skills development. Many progress reviews include very useful comments from tutors and employers and enable apprentices to reflect on their progress. Employers highly value the review process and appreciate their level Monitoring visit: Lavender International NDT Consultancy Services Limited, 17 and 18 December 2024 4 of involvement. The review process enables apprentices, and their managers, to know the progress that they are making and what they need to do next.

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Significant progress

Teachers develop apprentices’ mathematics skills well. Apprentices use complex calculations as part of their work to ensure safe working practices. They learn how to convert Sievert into micro-Sievert and macro-Sievert. They use these equations to calculate the safest maximum exposure for individuals covering a variety of demographics, such as people who are pregnant and older people.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers place a very high priority on keeping apprentices safe. The safeguarding team meets monthly to address any concerns that tutors have about apprentices and to identify individualised support for apprentices’ well-being. These meetings identify emerging trends which are covered in ‘hot topics’ newsletters designed to educate apprentices and staff on topical safeguarding issues. Topics include mental health, forced marriage and county lines. The newsletters are informative and serve as helpful reminders for apprentices about where and how to get support.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers recruit staff who are safe to work with apprentices. Safer recruitment processes are followed for all new staff. When staff commence work, they complete mandatory training in safeguarding procedures, the ‘Prevent’ duty and equality and diversity.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers have developed effective safeguarding procedures to record, report and deal with any concerns that apprentices may have. All members of the safeguarding team complete relevant safeguarding training to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to support apprentices effectively. Monitoring visit: Lavender International NDT Consultancy Services Limited, 17 and 18 December 2024 5 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

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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

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