NSPP Vocational Training Limited

NSPP Vocational Training Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Suzanne Horner, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

Suite 4 Bowden Hall Bowden Lane Marple Stockport SK6 6ND Monitoring visit: NSPP Vocational Training Limited, 9 and 10 July 2025

p.1

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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

NSPP Vocational Training Limited (NSPP) is an independent learning provider based in Marple, Stockport. NSPP received its first funding from West Midlands Combined Authority to provide training for adults in August 2024. At the time of the monitoring visit, the provider had 67 adult learners enrolled on level 3 qualifications. There were 28 learners studying cladding occupations, 16 on occupational work supervision, eight on trowel occupations, and fewer than five on plastering, site carpentry, and insulation and building treatments. Learners complete all their training on construction sites.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for the adult curriculum that they provide. They effectively train and upskill learners to strip potentially flammable cladding and re-fit fire-retardant cladding to buildings. This supports the increasing skills shortages in cladding, following a residential tower block disaster.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Almost all learners complete their qualifications. Most are successful in gaining permanent employment, pay increases, additional responsibilities and promotions within the construction sector.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have a mostly accurate oversight of the strengths and weaknesses of the provision. They have appropriate quality assurance processes in place, such as standardisation meetings and observations of teaching to monitor and improve the quality of training. They are working diligently to make improvements to the self- assessment and quality improvement plan.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have an accurate oversight of the progress that learners make. They intervene swiftly if learners are not making their expected progress. Assessors provide additional support to help the very few learners that fall behind to catch up quickly. Leaders ensure that tutors have the appropriate experience and Monitoring visit: NSPP Vocational Training Limited, 9 and 10 July 2025 qualifications to teach learners. However, training to further develop tutors’ teaching skills is still to be implemented.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders consider the welfare and well-being of staff. They provide opportunities for flexible working. For example, staff can work from home to support personal circumstances.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders rightly recognise that governance is in its infancy. There is no external governance in place. Leaders have imminent plans to recruit governors with specialisms in construction.

p.3

Reasonable progress

The curriculum is well-structured and sequenced logically. Learners develop and practise increasingly complex skills during their courses. For example, in level 3 cladding, learners firstly learn about health and safety and how to keep themselves, their colleagues and the public safe. They then learn about criminal and civil law, regulations and employers’ and employees’ responsibilities. Learners build on this knowledge when they learn about more complex aspects of construction such as planning, design life, expectancy and sustainability. Throughout the course, they learn about and use cladding systems such as purlins and side rails, single pan and double span systems and anti-sag rods.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Learners have a good understanding of cladding systems and equipment required for the cladding process. They talk confidently and competently about health and safety legislation and standards, and the safe use of equipment on construction sites. Learners explain the daily health and safety inspections they complete. For example, they check, isolate and report defective equipment such as scissor lifts with broken rollers and decks.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders have reviewed and amended the assessment methods they use so that they better meet learners’ individual needs. For example, assessors use verbal questions rather than written assessments to assess learning. They digitally record these sessions as a record of assessment. This removes barriers to learning for learners with additional learning needs or who have no formal educational qualifications. Since implementing these new methods of assessment, almost all learners now remain on their courses.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Learners receive useful information about their next steps such as further training, including management apprenticeships and occupational work supervisor qualifications. They discuss their career aspirations with their assessors and know what they need to do to achieve these goals. Monitoring visit: NSPP Vocational Training Limited, 9 and 10 July 2025

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders place a high priority on keeping learners safe. They ensure that all members of the safeguarding team are suitably qualified. The designated safeguarding lead has appropriate processes, procedures and systems to report, record and monitor any safeguarding incidents that may occur. However, as no safeguarding incidents have been reported, these systems are yet to be tested.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Learners feel safe on the building sites on which they work, with particularly high attention paid to health and safety.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders complete a range of appropriate checks when appointing new staff to make sure they are suitable to work with learners. All staff complete relevant training on safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Monitoring visit: NSPP Vocational Training Limited, 9 and 10 July 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.

p.4

Reasonable progress

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

Reasonable progress

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Reasonable progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5