J.N. Bentley Limited

JN Bentley Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Joanne Stork, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 22 and 23 January 2025

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Snaygill Industrial Estate Keighley Road Skipton North Yorkshire BD23 2QR Monitoring visit: JN Bentley Limited, 22 and 23 January 2025

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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.

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Context and focus of visit

JN Bentley Limited is an independent learning provider based in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Leaders offer a water and construction Skills Bootcamp, which they began delivering in February 2024. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were fewer than five learners enrolled. During the current academic year, 105 learners have completed the Skills Bootcamp.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear intent for the Skills Bootcamp provision to meet the needs of the construction industry. They offer courses that prepare learners to take up roles as general operatives on heavy civil and mechanical engineering construction sites, mostly in the water sector. Learners develop essential knowledge, skills and behaviours, including a sound understanding of key health and safety considerations. They gain a range of qualifications required to work in the industry, including the construction site certificate scheme card and driving a forward tipping dumper and ride on roller.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders work closely with Jobcentre Plus to recruit adults, many of whom are far from the labour market, and support them into employment. They also upskill their existing workforce to help meet their clients’ needs. Leaders plan to increase this element of the provision and are developing new training modules to broaden the skills that learners will develop.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear oversight of the provision to ensure it meets the requirements of a Skills Bootcamp. They keep suitable records to track the contact and support provided after completion of the course. Leaders have accurately identified that monitoring can be further improved to include timescales for the monthly follow-up calls. Monitoring visit: JN Bentley Limited, 22 and 23 January 2025 Leaders and managers provide sufficient resources for the delivery of the Skills Bootcamp provision. The practical plant space is purpose-built for training and meets industry standards. The training space is subject to audits from industry bodies to ensure that it meets requirements, such as having the correct length and radius curve in the training yard.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders monitor the quality of training that learners receive appropriately. They meet frequently with training staff to check learners’ progress both on course and after completion. Leaders visit sessions to ensure that training meets awarding body requirements and standards. However, leaders do not focus sufficiently on the quality of teaching.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and staff accurately assess learners’ prior knowledge. They carry out tests to establish the skills and knowledge that learners already have related to the construction industry. Leaders and staff use this information to select one of two pathways to suit both learners who are new to the industry and those who need to develop their skills further.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders plan the curriculum effectively. Trainers develop learners’ understanding of the safe use of tools and equipment and personal protective equipment. Learners are then introduced to topics that include working at height and asbestos awareness. Trainers support learners to develop theoretical knowledge and to apply it in their practical work. This helps learners to secure knowledge and skills before implementing them in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors use a range of effective teaching strategies to reinforce learning. They use recall tasks to enable learners to remember key information. Tutors use their experience well to provide learners with relevant real-life scenarios to develop understanding of the industry.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers develop learners’ English and mathematical skills within the context of the industry effectively. Learners carry out tasks such as measuring boundaries, assessing safe weights and reading architectural drawings for permits and underground excavation work.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers monitor the progress of learners well. Individual progress towards each element of the course is recorded on a tracking sheet that is shared with all trainers. Leaders use the information well to identify any issues with progress and provide learners with interventions such as further support or the opportunity to attend additional sessions. Monitoring visit: JN Bentley Limited, 22 and 23 January 2025 Trainers are well qualified and experienced in the construction sector. They carry out frequent industry updating, such as working at height, site safety and asbestos awareness, to keep their knowledge of the industry current. Trainers have appropriate teaching and instructor qualifications. However, leaders do not ensure that trainers have opportunity to enhance their teaching skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have very recently put in place suitable policies and procedures to help safeguard adult learners. They ensure that training staff have completed safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training. Trainers ensure that learners develop an awareness of the potential risks of radicalisation and extremism, including those that are relevant to the sector. Learners know the signs to look out for if someone is being radicalised and to whom to report any concerns.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead and the deputy safeguarding lead have completed appropriate training. They are new to the roles and recognise that some of the safeguarding processes are in their infancy and need further development to improve the safeguarding culture for learners. Monitoring visit: JN Bentley Limited, 22 and 23 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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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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

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