The Colebridge Trust Ltd

The Colebridge Trust Ltd The Junction Community Centre, 100 Chapelhouse Road, Fordbridge, Birmingham B37 5HA

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monitoring inspection report:

During the monitoring inspection, inspectors focused on the following themes:

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monitoring inspection report:

 leadership and governance - specifically the progress leaders and managers have made in designing and delivering relevant adult learning provision that has a clearly defined purpose, and in identifying and supporting the needs of adult learners

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monitoring inspection report:

 inclusion - specifically the progress leaders have made in identifying the needs of individual learners putting suitable support in place, in particular for those who are disadvantaged, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) or high needs, those who are known (or previously known) to social care, and those who may face other barriers to their experiences and opportunities, including those without level 2 English and/or mathematics

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monitoring inspection report:

 curriculum, teaching and training - specifically the progress leaders and managers have made in ensuring that learners benefit from high-quality adult education that prepares them well for their intended job role, career aim and/or personal goals

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monitoring inspection report:

 safeguarding arrangements - specifically whether leaders and managers have ensured that effective safeguarding arrangements are in place

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Leadership and governance

Reasonable progress : the provider’s actions are already having a beneficial impact on learners and/or apprentices. Improvements are sustainable and are based on the provider’s thorough quality assurance procedures.

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Leadership and governance

Leaders and managers work closely with the West Midlands Combined Authority to train adult learners in basic digital skills. Leaders use their well-established links with the local community to recruit hard-to-reach learners, many of whom are long-term unemployed and have low levels of digital literacy. Training is purposefully delivered in locations that are accessible to learners, such as local libraries and community centres. Monitoring inspection report: The Colebridge Trust Ltd 22 and 23 April 2026

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Leaders and managers have worked to improve the impact that the digital skills course has on learners. They have adapted the recruitment process to purposefully target learners who want to progress into further learning or employment. Leaders and staff closely track learners’ attendance and take appropriate action to re-engage those who do not attend.

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Leaders have in place a board of trustees, who have a good understanding of the local community. Trustees do not have enough education expertise to support and challenge leaders in relation to the quality of education and safeguarding adult learners. Leaders rightly acknowledge that they need to broaden the expertise of the board of trustees so that they can sufficiently support leaders to continuously improve.

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Inclusion

Reasonable progress : the provider’s actions are already having a beneficial impact on learners and/or apprentices. Improvements are sustainable and are based on the provider’s thorough quality assurance procedures.

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Inclusion

Leaders have designed the curriculum to meet the needs of learners, many of whom have multiple disadvantages. Trainers give tailored one-to-one training to meet the needs of learners who need extra help.

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Inclusion

Leaders and staff identify learners’ potential barriers to learning at the start of the course. Where learners declare potential barriers, such as financial hardship or mental health concerns, staff work to provide support, such as hot meals, digital hardware and referral to appropriate wellbeing support.

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Inclusion

Trainers have completed basic training to develop their awareness of neurodiversity, trauma-informed practice and special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Trainers are sympathetic to learners’ needs and work to provide any help they ask for.

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Inclusion

Leaders rightly recognise that trainers need more up-to-date and in-depth training to teach adult learners with SEND and to review and adjust learning support appropriately.

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Curriculum, teaching and training

Reasonable progress : the provider’s actions are already having a beneficial impact on learners and/or apprentices. Improvements are sustainable and are based on the provider’s thorough quality assurance procedures.

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Curriculum, teaching and training

Leaders have appointed trainers who are suitably experienced and qualified for their roles. Trainers have appropriate teaching qualifications and understand the communities and the learners with whom they work. Monitoring inspection report: The Colebridge Trust Ltd 22 and 23 April 2026

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On a one-to-one basis, trainers meet with learners frequently in welcoming and well- resourced learning environments. Leaders ensure learners have the use of appropriate laptops and computers during lessons to complete their studies.

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Trainers use information about what learners already know and can do to create a personalised curriculum and set meaningful learning targets. Trainers clearly explain and demonstrate new ideas and skills. Learners develop basic skills in word processing, spreadsheets and smartphone applications. Learners improve their confidence to carry out tasks, such as using the internet to search for employment, online shopping and online banking. However, trainers do not routinely assess learning to check that learners’ new knowledge and skills are retained. In some instances, this limits learners’ ability to become more independent in the use of digital technology.

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Trainers prepare learners well for their next steps. Learners conduct job searches and design CVs for employment. A growing proportion of learners go on to higher level information and communication technology courses.

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Safeguarding arrangements

Reasonable progress : the provider’s actions are already having a beneficial impact on learners and/or apprentices. Improvements are sustainable and are based on the provider’s thorough quality assurance procedures.

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Safeguarding arrangements

Leaders and managers have created a positive culture of safeguarding. Safeguarding is threaded throughout the whole organisation and is reflected in the broad range of early- intervention projects they provide to vulnerable people in the community.

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Safeguarding arrangements

Leaders have in place an appropriate safeguarding policy that is relevant to the safeguarding of adult learners. Appropriate systems are in place so that staff and learners know how to raise concerns. Managers and staff work with multi-agency partners, such as social services, housing services and advocacy groups, to support learners who are vulnerable or at risk.

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Safeguarding arrangements

Leaders have in place a suitable risk assessment and action plan relating to the ‘Prevent’ duty. Leaders mitigate risks through effective staff training. Staff are astutely aware of their role and responsibilities and remain vigilant.

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Safeguarding arrangements

Leaders and staff ensure learners can use online digital tools safely. Learners are taught about protecting their personal information when working online. However, learners are less well informed about the risks of radicalisation and extremism. Monitoring inspection report: The Colebridge Trust Ltd 22 and 23 April 2026

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About this inspection

Ofsted carries out monitoring inspections to all newly directly funded providers of adult learning provision where the provision offered is in scope for inspection.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this monitoring inspection was not to determine grades for any of the evaluation areas set out in the further education and skills inspection toolkit. The purpose was to report on the provider’s progress in relation to the 4 themes set out above.

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About this inspection

The Colebridge Trust Ltd is a charitable organisation that provides community-based support to help individuals overcome barriers and progress onto employment, learning and improved wellbeing. It provides West Midlands Combined Authority funded adult learning courses focused on basic digital skills. They teach in local community venues across North Solihull and surrounding local areas. In total, 126 adult learners have accessed this course. At the time of the inspection, there were 81 learners on programme.

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programmes at time of inspection

Number of apprentices at time of inspection 0

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funding at time of inspection

Monitoring inspection report: The Colebridge Trust Ltd 22 and 23 April 2026

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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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