Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Civil Nuclear Constabulary Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Richard Kirkham, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 14 and 15 January 2025

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Address:

CNC Training, Culham campus Building F7 Abingdon Oxfordshire OX14 3DB Monitoring visit: Civil Nuclear Constabulary, 14 and 15 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 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

The Civil Nuclear Constabulary is an independent employer provider based at the constabulary headquarters in Culham, Oxfordshire. It specialises in training police officers to protect civil nuclear materials and critical national infrastructure. At the time of the inspection, there were 102 apprentices in learning. All apprentices were studying the level 4 non-home office police officer apprenticeship. Apprentices attend initial training for 19 weeks before joining their police units in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have established a clear purpose to recruit and develop police officers for the civil nuclear constabulary. They have successfully introduced the apprenticeship to train new police recruits to become armed response officers at civil nuclear sites. Apprentices provide armed escort for movement of nuclear material and support the strategic armed policing reserve nationally.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders take an inclusive approach to recruiting apprentices with varied previous abilities and experience. Leaders assess apprentices’ knowledge effectively at the start of the apprenticeship. They adapt training plans to recognise any prior learning. For example, apprentices who have previous experience in associated roles, for example as police community support officers, do not repeat study on topics, such as airwave radio use, communication and stop and account, as they already have knowledge and skills in these areas.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit experienced trainers, who train apprentices in highly specialist training facilities. Trainers teach apprentices how to carry, handle and shoot police firearms at the advanced firearms facility within the tactical training centre. Leaders ensure other staff who support apprentices at the training facilities and in the workplace are trained to do so. Monitoring visit: Civil Nuclear Constabulary, 14 and 15 January 2025 Leaders effectively identify recruits who may need additional support early in the apprenticeship. They provide appropriate resources and make sure that apprentices receive the help that they need for their training. Apprentices make positive progress on the apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders regularly review and adapt training so it remains relevant to the demands of the job and the type of incidents officers respond to. For example, they make sure apprentices develop a comprehensive knowledge of how to respond to road incidents, as there has been an increase in these incidents nationally.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders make apprentices aware about the final assessment at the end of the apprenticeship. However, staff do not make sure apprentices are fully aware of the full range of components or tasks that they will encounter. Apprentices are unclear about what they need to do to achieve a distinction grade.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders do not make sure that apprentices start working towards their mathematics and English qualifications early enough in their apprenticeship. Apprentices do not make the rapid progress they are capable of in developing these important skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed a comprehensive and intensive upfront training programme to prepare apprentices well to enter the workplace. Trainers teach apprentices key knowledge they need to start their jobs. For example, they teach apprentices about the law, health and safety, preventing terrorism, the impact of trespassing and safe working with firearms. Apprentices swiftly develop relevant and highly specialist skills that effectively prepare them to be useful members of their workplace teams.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders plan training effectively so apprentices build their knowledge securely, so they can complete increasingly complex tasks. For example, apprentices learn and practise how to use a radio in simple scenarios before they learn more sophisticated skills, such as using effective radio communication while also dealing with stressful situations. Eventually, they learn how to use the radio in complex incidents while liaising with colleagues and completing checks on the national database. Apprentices continually build more complex skills confidently and competently over time.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide individualised support for apprentices in the workplace. This helps them to apply their new skills in real life situations. Police unit tutors support apprentices through real or simulated situations when at work. These situations include responding to and containing a threatening knife crime, attending a high-risk missing persons incident or simulated arrests. Apprentices become confident in their abilities when dealing with challenging and highly pressured situations. Monitoring visit: Civil Nuclear Constabulary, 14 and 15 January 2025 Teaching staff use assessment well to check apprentices’ understanding. Trainers regularly assess apprentices’ skills, such as the use of firearms. Where required, trainers provide apprentices with individualised help and adapt training to make sure they achieve the vital competencies. As a result, apprentices are supported well to achieve the required standard before they enter the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have not planned the training apprentices receive in the workplace as effectively as initial training. Leaders understandably rely on incidents naturally occurring for apprentices to apply their learning. However, they have not systematically scheduled alternative activities for those where opportunities have not arisen. Consequently, a few apprentices are not confident they will have the opportunity to experience or apply the full range of their training within their police units.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed appropriate safeguarding policies. Leaders make sure that the staff they employ are safe to work with apprentices. All staff and apprentices are comprehensively vetted to work within the police force.

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Reasonable progress

Staff provide apprentices with effective training on how to keep themselves and others safe. They have covered topics such as understanding domestic abuse, abuse of position for sexual purposes and the police code of ethics. They also learn about the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism. Apprentices relate this learning to their day-to-day police work well. Apprentices feel safe and know who to speak to if they have any concerns.

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Reasonable progress

All staff complete mandatory training in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty and are aware of how to support those that may be at risk of harm. However, the designated safeguarding leads have not yet completed training to be able to fully appreciate how to carry out all aspects of their role. Monitoring visit: Civil Nuclear Constabulary, 14 and 15 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

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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