Rase Veterinary Nursing College Ltd

Rase Veterinary Nursing College Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Vicki Locke, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 7 Market Place Market Rasen Lincolnshire LN8 3HJ Monitoring visit: Rase Veterinary Nursing College Limited, 1 and 2 April 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

Rase Veterinary Nursing College Limited is part of the Rase Veterinary Centre, with practices throughout Lincolnshire. Leaders offer training for the level 3 veterinary nursing apprenticeship. At the time of the visit, there were 22 apprentices in training, almost all of whom work for the Rase Veterinary Centre . Most apprentices were aged 19 and over, with fewer than five aged 18 and under.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for apprenticeships to address their own workforce needs and respond to the national skills shortage for registered veterinary nurses. They make sure apprentices receive high-quality training that meets Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons standards.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders develop appropriate training plans and provide sufficient teaching time. Apprentices have day release from their work roles to attend classes. Clinical supervisors provide practical training. They guide apprentices to develop their workplace skills effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit apprentices with integrity. Tutors undertake suitable initial assessments to ascertain apprentices’ previous knowledge and skills in important areas such as resilience and communication.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors have extensive vocational experience in the veterinary sector. They are all trained veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses. Tutors hold introductory-level teaching qualifications. Leaders plan to support tutors to access training to develop their teaching skills further. Monitoring visit: Rase Veterinary Nursing College Limited, 1 and 2 April 2025 Apprentices benefit from physical resources that enhance their practical skills and ensure they are well prepared for situations they will face. For example, they have access to simulation dogs to practise life-saving techniques in emergency situations.

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Reasonable progress

Quality improvement processes are not thorough enough. Leaders intend to develop quality assurance activities, including carrying out more observations of teaching and workplace training sessions.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have completed a basic course evaluation, which will inform the development of a full self-assessment report. They have suitable plans to develop a more comprehensive evaluation and a carefully considered quality improvement plan.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders’ governance arrangements are in their infancy. Leaders recognise the benefits of external oversight and formal governance. They have suitable plans that they intend to put in place.

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Reasonable progress

The curriculum is well thought out. Apprentices initially learn the fundamentals of animal welfare and ethics. Then they study a series of well-sequenced topics such as anaesthesia, which start with terminology and safety and go on to study patient preparation, drugs, monitoring and recovery.

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Reasonable progress

In classes, tutors use their expertise very well to help apprentices learn about demanding topics such as the nervous system. Tutors use diagrams and everyday imagery effectively to support their explanations. They help apprentices to understand anatomical terminology. Tutors make frequent links to apprentices’ job roles such as how brain shrinkage can cause animals’ stances to be unbalanced.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors mostly use suitable approaches, such as workbooks and practical activities, to check apprentices’ understanding. In practical tasks, for example, apprentices have to demonstrate how to glove and gown up in a sterile way. However, in a few cases, tutors do not focus enough on assessing what apprentices do and do not understand.

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Reasonable progress

Clinical supervisors provide apprentices with thorough training and support. Supervisors use demonstrations and practice tasks to help apprentices master important skills such as cannulation and microchipping.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors, supervisors and apprentices attend 12-weekly progress reviews where relevant discussions take place. However, in a few instances, discussions do not consider links between apprentices’ on- and off-the-job training well enough. Monitoring visit: Rase Veterinary Nursing College Limited, 1 and 2 April 2025 Lead tutors monitor apprentices’ progress closely. They consider attendance, examination and assignment grades and progress review outcomes.

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Reasonable progress

Assessment feedback is clear and helpful. Tutors identify what apprentices do well and where they need to improve. Apprentices’ written work is of a good standard.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop significant new knowledge and skills. In their job roles, they become competent in a range of practical tasks such as lump removal, catheterisation and suturing.

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Reasonable progress

There are no current apprentices close to their final assessments. Lead tutors plan for apprentices to attend preparation days in readiness for their assessments.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and staff create a safe environment. Tutors and clinical supervisors frequently check apprentices’ well-being in fortnightly tutorials and 12-weekly progress reviews.

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Reasonable progress

Safer recruitment and safeguarding policies and procedures are all appropriate.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe and are confident reporting any concerns should the need arise.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a suitable ‘Prevent’ duty policy in place. They have recently developed a ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment and action plan. Leaders plan to carry out several improvement actions. For example, they plan to formalise their oversight of staff safeguarding training and the information that apprentices receive. Monitoring visit: Rase Veterinary Nursing College Limited, 1 and 2 April 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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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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