Cleshar Contract Services Limited

Cleshar Contracted Services Monitoring visit report

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Ramin Narimani, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Inspection dates: 17 and 18 September 2025

p.1

Address:

Mercury House, Heather Park Drive, Wembley, London, HA0 1SS Monitoring visit: Cleshar Contracted Services, 17 and 18 September 2025

p.1

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 Department for Education 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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Cleshar Contracted Services is an employer provider with their main training site in the London Borough of Brent. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were nine apprentices on the level 2 rail engineering operative standard. All apprentices are adults and employed by the provider. Apprentices attend their training in person.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have very good knowledge and understanding of the rail industry. They collaborate very closely with large public transport organisations in the industry to understand their needs. They have responded well to the shortages in this sector by introducing the level 2 rail operative apprenticeship standard into their curriculum.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers recruit apprentices appropriately by ensuring they are in suitable job roles. This helps apprentices to be able to apply their new knowledge, skills and behaviours at work. Leaders also ensure apprentices receive their off-the- job training entitlement and, therefore, have enough time to attend training and consolidate their knowledge.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have invested substantially to ensure apprentices use current rail industry standard facilities and equipment in their training. These include rail tracks, simulated tunnels and repair equipment. Leaders have also ensured that trainers have sufficient knowledge and expertise in relevant areas, such as rail track and signalling.

p.2

Reasonable progress

At the start of the apprenticeship, leaders did not introduce a comprehensive assessment of apprentices’ prior knowledge, skills and behaviours or frequent and effective progress reviews. They have identified these issues and appointed experienced apprenticeship staff, who have started to make positive changes in Monitoring visit: Cleshar Contracted Services, 17 and 18 September 2025 these areas. It is too early to see the full impact of leaders’ actions. Apprentices talk positively about these changes and have confidence in the new staff.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders monitor the quality of their provision, such as achievement rates, quality of training and attendance closely. They have high expectations of learners’ attendance and performance. When leaders identify concerns, such as low timely achievement rates for apprentices, they take suitable actions to make improvements.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders and trainers have planned and implemented a relevant and mostly logically sequenced curriculum. They teach apprentices the key foundation and mandatory knowledge they need to start in their job roles. For example, during their induction period, apprentices learn the safe use of specific equipment, such as Hippo mixers, and complete and pass specific track safety courses. They also learn about the associated regulations and how to carry out risk assessments and identify hazards.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Trainers are very knowledgeable, with many years’ experience of working in the rail industry. They use their expertise well in their teaching to emphasise real-life examples and scenarios. They engage apprentices in discussions effectively, which helps trainers to check that apprentices have good understanding of the topics taught previously.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Apprentices are interested in their learning and are curious. They often question their trainers to understand more about topics. Trainers frequently check apprentices’ understanding through assessment and effective questioning. Apprentices recall prior learning correctly, for example they have good understanding of the effect of ballast contamination on the stability of sleepers.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Apprentices learn significant new knowledge and skills as they progress with their course and can apply their learning and skills in their jobs. In practical sessions, trainers give apprentices supervisory roles to prepare them for their jobs. During these sessions, apprentices work collaboratively and positively together and show their competence in using the equipment and tools.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Trainers give apprentices helpful and frequent feedback on their assignments and practical work. They discuss individually with apprentices how well they have done in their assignments and competency tests, and suggest how they can improve their work. Monitoring visit: Cleshar Contracted Services, 17 and 18 September 2025

p.3

Insufficient progress

Apprentices feel safe at work and in their training and know how to raise any concerns. Leaders have created a strong culture of health and safety, and apprentices have detailed knowledge of safety regulations and procedures.

p.4

Insufficient progress

Apprentices are aware of and have access to well-being support through an employee assistance programme.

p.4

Insufficient progress

Leaders have not fully developed or implemented their safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty policies. For example, they have not arranged suitable safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training for staff that meet their own policy requirements. Monitoring visit: Cleshar Contracted Services, 17 and 18 September 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

Insufficient 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

Insufficient 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

Insufficient progress

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

p.5

Insufficient progress

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

p.5