Learnmore Skills Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection dates: 29 April to 1 May 2025

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Apprenticeships Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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Information about this provider

Learnmore Skills Limited was previously inspected as North West Community Services Training Ltd (NWCS Training). The provider is based in Huyton, Merseyside and was established in 1986 as an independent learning provider. Since July 2016, NWCS Training has transferred ownership four times, with the most recent acquisition in November 2023 by Learnmore Network Limited.

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Information about this provider

At the time of the inspection, there were 76 apprentices in learning. There were 27 apprentices on the level 3 early years educator, 26 on the level 2 cleaning hygiene operative, 13 on the level 3 teaching assistant, nine on the level 2 early years practitioner, with the remainder of apprentices on the level 3 business administrator apprenticeship. Seven apprentices were 16 to 18 years of age. 29 April to 1 May 2025

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices on the level 3 early years educator apprenticeship are frustrated and unhappy with the disruption to their learning because of changes to their workplace coaches (coaches). They have not benefited from sufficient theoretical coaching sessions or regular meetings with coaches. Most have fallen significantly behind in their learning and have not completed their apprenticeship on time. Despite their frustrations, apprentices demonstrate resilience and motivation to remain in training and complete their apprenticeship to fulfil their career ambitions. The level 2 cleaning hygiene operative apprentices have had a much more positive experience. These apprentices enjoy their training, and most make good progress.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices develop their confidence as a result of what they learn. Level 3 early years educator apprentices learn about children’s different religious backgrounds and cultural differences. Apprentices confidently apply this knowledge and understanding at work when helping children celebrate a range of religious and cultural events.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Most apprentices regularly attend their training sessions when they are planned. Most develop occupationally relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours. Level 2 cleaning hygiene operative apprentices have a secure understanding of the products and techniques needed for cleaning different surfaces, machinery and equipment. After completing their apprenticeship, most apprentices remain in employment. A small minority receive promotions or additional duties or move on to further learning.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices feel safe, and most know how to protect themselves from radicalisation and extremist views.

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better?

Immediately after acquiring the provision, senior leaders reviewed, designed and implemented a range of new systems and processes. However, leaders do not identify the full extent of the weaknesses in the quality of education that apprentices receive. Leaders have not yet rectified all the areas for improvement from the previous inspection.

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better?

The new senior leadership ensure that their curriculums reflect the needs of the regional and national economy. They work closely with employers in early years and cleaning hygiene sectors to develop curriculums in line with industry standards.

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better?

Appropriately qualified and experienced coaches plan well-designed and effectively sequenced training. This enables most apprentices to develop relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours. For instance, level 2 cleaning hygiene operative apprentices learn about a range of regulations such as Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. They routinely apply this knowledge at work when safely storing and using dangerous chemicals. 29 April to 1 May 2025

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Coaches do not use information about what apprentices already know and can do well enough to plan an individualised curriculum for apprentices. Leaders have recently created a skills scan that closely aligns with the knowledge, skills and behaviours appropriate to each apprenticeship for coaches to use to plan learning. However, this process has not yet been implemented.

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In level 2 cleaning hygiene operative coaching sessions and when level 3 early years educator coaching sessions take place, coaches correct any misconceptions that apprentices have. For instance, in level 3 early years educator, coaches help apprentices consider why and how male and female children’s emotional and physical development might be different.

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Coaches do not ensure that on- and off-the-job training is systematically planned and coordinated across all apprenticeships. Too few apprentices’ line managers attend apprentices’ progress reviews. This means that line managers do not know what they specifically need to do to support their apprentices in practising and applying their knowledge and skills at work, which slows apprentices’ progress.

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Coaches provide a range of helpful careers information, advice and guidance to apprentices. This prepares most apprentices well for their next steps. Apprentices aspire to move into speech and language therapy or leadership roles. To support these aspirations, a few apprentices shadow their supervisors or line managers at work.

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Coaches’ use of assessment is effective. They use appropriate questioning techniques to check apprentices’ understanding. Coaches provide clear feedback to apprentices on their written work. They tell apprentices what they have done well and what they need to improve. In response, most apprentices routinely act on the feedback and resubmit improved work. Most apprentices develop a good understanding of the topics taught.

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Too many apprentices left their apprenticeship before completing. Of those apprentices who remained on their apprenticeship, most passed their final assessments at their first attempt, with almost three-quarters of apprentices achieving distinction grades. While level 2 cleaning hygiene operative apprentices feel well prepared for their final assessments, too few level 3 early years educator apprentices spoken to who are nearing their final assessments feel prepared and know specifically what they need to do to achieve a distinction grade. Most level 3 early years educator apprentices have not had all the required workplace observations of their practice in preparation for their final assessments.

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Leaders do not ensure that governors accurately understand the strengths and weaknesses of the apprenticeship provision. Consequently, governors are unable to provide effective challenge to leaders to improve the standard of training for apprentices. 29 April to 1 May 2025

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure coaches help level 3 early years educator apprentices to rapidly catch up and achieve their apprenticeships so they can move on to the next stages of their career.  Use the information gathered on apprentices’ knowledge and skills at the start of their apprenticeship to tailor training for apprentices so that all apprentices make the progress they are capable of.  Ensure that line managers attend and participate in reviews of apprentices’ progress to ensure that apprentices can practise and apply at work what they have learned.  Ensure that coaches systematically coordinate apprentices’ on- and off-the-job training with apprentices’ line managers so that apprentices rapidly develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours.  Ensure that leaders accurately identify the weaknesses in the quality of education that apprentices receive and provide governors with this information. 29 April to 1 May 2025

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Provider details

Address Maggie O’Neill Community Centre 433 Liverpool Road Huyton Liverpool L36 8HT

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Becky Newell

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 6 to 9 December 2022

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 29 April to 1 May 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the director of quality and curriculum, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Kim Bleasdale, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Alastair Mollon His Majesty’s Inspector Philippa Firth His Majesty’s Inspector 29 April to 1 May 2025

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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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