D.T.K. Business Services Limited

D.T.K. Business Services Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Andrea McMahon, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 3 Vicarage Road London E15 4HF D.T.K. Business Services Limited, 8 and 9 January 2025

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Context and focus of visit

D.T.K Business Services Limited was inspected in February 2024. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in resolving the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Context and focus of visit

D.T.K Business Services Limited is an independent learning provider based in the London Borough of Newham. It teaches apprenticeships between levels 2 and 5 in adult care and hairdressing.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have trained tutors to teach apprentices with additional learning needs effectively. Tutors have completed useful training on autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia and mental health awareness. They use what they have learned to teach apprentices well. As a result, hairdressing apprentices with additional learning needs now achieve their apprenticeship in line with their peers. Tutors adapt their teaching appropriately to ensure that apprentices with additional learning needs understand the content of their lessons. For example, when teaching hairdressing apprentices complex theory about hair composition, tutors use coloured overlays, break down their explanations into simple terms and thoroughly check apprentices’ understanding. Apprentices appreciate the support tutors provide to them. Leaders and managers use a suitable approach to identifying apprentices’ learning

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Reasonable progress

needs at the start of their programme. They have invested in a helpful dyslexia screening tool that tutors use at the recruitment stage to diagnose needs. Apprentices value the adjustments tutors make to help them learn important subject knowledge. D.T.K. Business Services Limited, 8 and 9 January 2025

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have improved the way that they manage their apprenticeships. They have put better processes in place and now know what their strengths and areas for improvement are. For example, leaders have introduced frequent tutor performance management reviews, monitor apprentices’ off-the-job hours more closely than before and maintain accurate information regarding apprentices’ start and end dates. Leaders meet regularly and set improvement actions to make sure apprentices receive the support they need. As these processes are relatively new, it is too early to assess their impact. Leaders have established a productive relationship with their adult care end-point assessment provider. They have used the resources and training given to them to improve their understanding of end-point assessment. They now give apprentices more time and better support for their final assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have strengthened the support they provide to tutors to improve their teaching. Leaders make sure tutors benefit from opportunities to update their knowledge of their sector and their teaching skills. For example, hairdressing assessors complete training on colour conversion. They use this knowledge to teach apprentices how to advise clients on colour tones that suit them best. Managers observe tutors’ teaching frequently and set improvement actions to help them develop their teaching skills.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide effective support for adult care apprentices who are due to take their final assessment. For example, they arrange for apprentices to practise the professional discussion and multiple-choice question elements of their assessment. Tutors provide apprentices with regular one-to-one teaching. Apprentices appreciate the support tutors give them and feel well prepared for their end-point assessment. Leaders have prioritised supporting adult care apprentices to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to complete their apprenticeship. Since improving the quality of their provision, a significant proportion of their first group of adult care apprentices have now passed their apprenticeship with a few gaining merits and distinctions. D.T.K. Business Services Limited, 8 and 9 January 2025

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Insufficient progress

Leaders do not ensure that employers contribute to apprentices’ progress reviews consistently. In instances where employers do attend progress reviews, they work well with tutors and apprentices to identify opportunities for them to take on new tasks to develop their knowledge and skills. For example, in adult care, where it is identified that apprentices are yet to administer medication to the clients they care for in community settings, employers arrange for this to take place. This help apprentices close gaps in their knowledge. However, where employers do not attend reviews, they do not plan suitable opportunities at work for apprentices to consolidate and develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours. Leaders do not monitor employers’ attendance at apprentices’ progress reviews closely enough. Across the range of their programmes, they lack comprehensive oversight of employers’ attendance. In a few instances, leaders have not made

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Insufficient progress

employers aware of the need to contribute to progress reviews. D.T.K. Business Services Limited, 8 and 9 January 2025 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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Insufficient progress

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Insufficient 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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