Ofsted round-up: This week: A selection of Adult Learning providers

Yorkshire Training Services, Leeds

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Good: Grade 2

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Construction, planning and the built environment Satisfactory: Grade 3

Established in 2001 to provide training services for the construction plant, building and civil engineering sector, Yorkshire Training Services (YTS) is a privately owned company. Staffing consists of an internal verifier, six assessor/instructors and two administrative staff. YTS was a subcontractor in the North Yorkshire Employer Training Pilot (ETP) programme before achieving its current direct provider status. YTS currently has 20 learners on train to gain programmes, with assessments carried out by YTS assessors in the work place.

The report finds that YTS has demonstrated that it is in a satisfactory position to make improvements. As part of their commitment to providing a good service to employers, YTS gives a high priority to learner progress and achievement. However, the use of target setting is insufficiently developed within YTS as no targets were set for improving success rates.

Key strengths found during the investigation were the overall high success rates, high levels of learners’ skills and knowledge. YTS was found to have a very responsive provision, which met the needs of both learners and employers, they had very good strategies to maintain and improve learner performance, particularly effective links with employers and showed effective removal of long standing barriers of learning.

The report finds that a significant proportion of learners have made slow progress towards the achievement of their qualification in 2007/08. Of the 10 learners who have left to date in 2008/09, only four have achieved by their planned end date. All learners are allocated six months to complete their programme, however some learners have taken up to nine months to achieve.

The Nova Partnership, Essex

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Good: Grade 2

Capacity to improve Good: Grade 2

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade 3

Quality of provision Good: Grade 2

Leadership and management Good: Grade 2

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Good: Grade 2

Sector subject areas:

Health, public services and care Good: Grade 2

Agriculture, horticulture and animal care Good: Grade 2

Engineering and manufacturing technologies Good: Grade 2

Construction, planning and the built environment Good: Grade 2

Information and communication technology Good: Grade 2

Retailing and wholesaling Good: Grade 2

Hairdressing and beauty therapy Good: Grade 2

Employability training Good: Grade 2

Business, administration and law Good: Grade 2

The Nova Partnership (NOVA) and the Thames Gateway Train to Gain Consortium (Thames Gateway) are LSC funded consortia led and managed by South East Essex College (SEEC) in Southend-on-Sea. Established in 1997, NOVA offers Entry to Employment (E2E) and apprenticeships in a range of occupational areas to learners in south Essex. Thames Gateway was set up in 2007 and offers training funded through Train to Gain in a similar rage of subject areas as NOVA and the consortia provide learning to 2,994 learners on the programme.

The report finds that achievement and standards are satisfactory and that learners on apprenticeship programmes develop good practical and work related skills during their training. Overall success rate for Train to Gain is very high at 100%, however timely success rates remain low at 43%, just below the national rate of 46%.

Some learners doing level 3 NVQ courses make slow progress with timely success rates for advanced apprentices at Prospects college being low at 45% in 2006/07 and 41% in 2007/08. The Thurrock and Basildon College inspection identified that the standard of learners’ practical work was good and that learners demonstrated good skills.

Progress reviews for learners are satisfactory and although they are planned to take place every 13 weeks, most learners are reviewed more frequently, with reviews and records appearing thorough. However, timescales recorded in learners individual plans are determined by the funding period rather than their individual needs and abilities.

On-site Bristol, Bristol

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Good: Grade 2

Capacity to improve Good: Grade 2

Achievement and standards Good: Grade 2

Quality of provision Good: Grade 2

Leadership and management Good: Grade 2

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Good: Grade 2

Sector subject area:

Construction, planning and the built environment Good: Grade 2

Launched in 1997 in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, Construction Skills, City of Bristol College and LSC, On Site Bristol (OSB) was launched by Bristol City Council and operates in an areas where the unemployment rate is 4.4%, compared with the national average of 2.5%. Learners at OSB attend off-the-job training at a local further education college where assessments and internal verification are carried out by college staff.

The inspection has found that OSB demonstrates a good capacity to improve as well-managed changes have taken place following an unsuccessful re-inspection. The self-assessment process is well managed and supports improvement planning. Compared to the satisfactory 2007 self-assessment report, the 2008 report is well researched and well presented with data being used effectively.

Key strengths within OSB include the overall success rates for apprenticeships, good development of learners’ practical skills and the effective match of provision to learners’ and employers’ needs. The report found that OSB has particularly good support for learners from project officers, a strong strategic direction to attract priority groups of learners and very effective quality assurance and improvement activities.

Overall success rates for learners with OSB are good and since the previous inspection success rates have improved each year. Success rates for apprentices were 89%, significantly above the national average of 61%. Overall timely success rates have improved considerably, but are still just below the national average.

Natalie Hailes