From education to employment

Ofsted round-up – This week: Two Train to Gain health and care providers with good and satisfactory

Allcare Training Consultants Ltd, Haslingden, Lancashire

 

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 Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Good: Grade 2

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Health, public services and care Satisfactory: Grade 3

Allcare Training Consultants Ltd (Allcare) is a private company, funded by Lancashire LSC, which provides training and assessment in social care through Train to Gain programmes. There are currently 69 learners, all of whom work in care or early years settings. All training and assessment is carried out in the learners’ workplaces.

Allcare’s report said that effectiveness of provision and capacity to improve were both good with the company showing a, “strong commitment to continuously improve the quality of provision.” Ofsted agreed with the self-assessment that achievement and standards were good. Success rates for Train to Gain learners were 74% in 2006/07, and 72% had successfully complete their qualification in the first 11 months of 2007/08. Good progress for learners was highlighted as a key strength.

The quality of provision was graded as satisfactory. The report listed only one area for improvement, which related to this section. Inspectors thought that arrangements for the planning and delivery of training and assessment were underdeveloped. They suggested that assessment relied “too much” on standardised written questions. Otherwise, they said that progress was effectively reviewed and “very good” support for learners was a strength.

Leadership and management were good. Ofsted reported that Allcare had, “a very good strategic approach to management and quality improvement which it uses well to develop the provision.” Staff were found to be well motivated, communication was good and equality of opportunity was satisfactory.

 

Kirkdale Industrial Training Service, Brighouse

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Good: Grade 2

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade 3

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Engineering and manufacturing technologies Satisfactory: Grade 3

Kirkdale Industrial Training Services Limited (KITS) is a training company and a registered charity formed by the merger of two small training associations in 1991. Through a contract with West Yorkshire LSC, KITS offers apprenticeships, advanced apprenticeships and NVQs in engineering and construction, and business administration through subcontracted Train to Gain programmes. The company provides programmes in other subject areas, though some of these were not directly inspected for this report.

Ofsted gave satisfactory grades to most areas inspected, but said that KITS had a good capacity to improve. Achievement and standards were satisfactory with learners developing good practical skills and gaining confidence in the workplace. The report stated that success rates had shown an improving trend in the last few years, but should continue to be a focus for improvement along with tackling slow progression in completing frameworks.

Teaching and learning garnered a satisfactory grade, and inspectors said: “On-the-job training is good with a clear focus on developing learners’ practical skills.” Progress reviews and target-setting were considered poor because targets were often “repetitive and not individualised.” Training resources were found to be good. Guidance and support were good particularly where unemployed learners were helped to find employment, which was highlighted as a key strength.

Ofsted graded leadership and management as satisfactory. They felt that effective communication and continual investment in good resources were among the provider’s key strengths. Ofsted noted incomplete quality assurance systems and insufficient reinforcement of equal opportunities as areas for improvement. Ofsted were pleased with the “innovative” strategies that had led to an increase in the number of applications from women and members of minority ethnic groups.

Sunnyside Training Ltd, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

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 Good: Grade 2

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Good: Grade 2

Sector subject area:

Employability training Good: Grade 2

Established in 1993, Sunnyside Training Limited (STL) provides work-based learning for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. The company has a contract with Hertfordshire LSC to provide Entry to Employment (E2E) programmes. Learners undertake training and work-placements, most of which are in retail and care.

STL received a combination of good and satisfactory grades in their inspection report. Ofsted felt the overall effectiveness of provision was satisfactory, while achievement and standards were considered good. They reported: “Learners develop very good levels of personal, social and employability skills… [and] their self-confidence and self-esteem improves considerably.” Standards of work were found to be high, progression rates were satisfactory and attendance was excellent.

The quality of provision was good overall and teaching, learning and on-the-job training were satisfactory. Inspectors thought that STL had a well developed programme that met both the needs of learners and employers. This was a key strength, as was the support made available to learners. Initial assessment and support for ESOL learners was the main area for improvement in this section.

Leadership and management were given a satisfactory grade. Ofsted suggested that the continuous professional development for staff was insufficient and could be improved. They also said there could be more sharing of good practice and better use of observations to improve teaching and learning. However, they highlighted links with employers and partners as a strength. Ofsted were pleased with the providers work to, “enable disadvantaged learners to realise their potential.”

PACT Education, Reading

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade 3

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Health, public services and care Satisfactory: Grade 3

Parents and Children Together Education (PACT) is a charity that provides Train to Gain programmes in health, public services and care to learners throughout Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Milton Keynes. Programmes are funded by the National Employment Service (NES) and the Oxford LSC. At the time of inspection, there were 97 learners working towards level 2 or 3 NVQs in health and social care, children’s care or business administration.

Ofsted found the effectiveness of provision, and most other areas, at PACT to be satisfactory. Achievement and standards were satisfactory, and Ofsted agreed with the self-assessment that good development of practical and personal skills for learners was a key strength of the provider. The report stated that, “success rates are low but improving,” and listed this as an area for improvement.

Inspectors gave the quality of provision a satisfactory grade. They highlighted assessment as a particular strength because assessors met the learners very frequently, arranged assessments effectively and made, “very good use of prior achievement.” Progress reviews and the use of individual learning plans were deemed ineffective. Inspectors thought these areas could be improved if they were more consistent and set more specific targets. Support for learners and on- and off-the-job training were satisfactory.

Ofsted graded leadership and management as satisfactory. They noted that quality improvement systems were under-developed; this was an area for improvement. The promotion of equality was satisfactory and adequately monitored. The development of good networking and partnerships was a strength, and Ofsted suggested that PACT managed staff development well.


Related Articles

Responses