Weekly Ofsted round-up
This week: From childcare to animal care: A mix of outstanding to satisfactory reports
Sutton & District Training, Morden, Surrey
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:
Preparation for life and work Good: Grade 2
Sutton and District Training Limited (SDT) began providing life skills and pre-employment training in 1999. There are currently 48 learners undertaking Entry to Employment (E2E) programmes funded by London South LSC. The courses cover areas such as basic ICT, literacy, numeracy and job searching.
Ofsted graded most areas of SDT’s inspection as good, including the effectiveness of provision and capacity to improve. The report stated that: “Progression, achievement and retention of learners are good,” and, “attendance is outstanding.” It continued by saying that learners are able to acquire new technical skills, develop social skills and confidence, and most achieve additional qualifications.
The quality of provision was graded as good with several key strengths, including good support, effective use of resources and a good range of work taster programmes, identified. Inspectors thought that tutors prepared effective learning sessions and reviewed progress adequately. However, they felt that “insufficient work placements” was an area for improvement. Induction, which had been a weakness, was now seen to be satisfactory.
Ofsted listed leadership as a key strength. They found that staff were able to play a part in the company’s decision making, which was helping in the development of, “very flexible and responsive provision.” Inspectors saw that learners had a good understanding of equality and diversity. The main criticisms were directed towards the self-assessment report and development plan, which were considered insufficient.
AWE plc, Reading
Summary of grades awarded:
Effectiveness of provision Outstanding: Grade 1
Capacity to improve Good: Grade 2
Achievement and standards Outstanding: Grade 1
Quality of provision Outstanding: Grade 1
Leadership and management Outstanding: Grade 1
Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Good: Grade 2
Sector subject area:
Engineering and manufacturing technologies Outstanding: Grade 1
The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) is an organisation that manages and maintains Britain’s nuclear deterrent. An in-house training facility has been in place for 55 years and, through links with Thames Valley LSC and Newbury College, AWE provides work-based learning to 82 apprentices and 66 advanced apprentices.
AWE received a very favourable report from Ofsted, who listed no key areas for improvement. Achievement and standards were graded outstanding as success rates were considered to be consistently high. The report said that standards of work were very high and that learners, “develop excellent practical skills and demonstrate high levels of confidence in using tools and specialist equipment when carrying out their work.”
Inspectors felt that teaching and learning at the “On-site Apprentice Academy” was good or very good in many cases. Support available to learners was identified as a strength, as were the resources, which included “well designed and equipped” classrooms and workshops. Assessment was seen to be good and learners are able to benefit from an, “excellent range of additional enrichment activities.”
Ofsted judged leadership to be “strong” and listed good equality of opportunity and excellent health and safety arrangement among other strengths for this area. They were pleased that quality improvement arrangements had improved since the previous inspection and suggested that good monitoring would enable AWE to continue improving provision.
Children’s Links, Horncastle
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: Good: Grade 2
Sector subject areas:
Child development and well-being Satisfactory: Grade 3
Teaching and lecturing Satisfactory: Grade 3
Children’s Links is a charitable voluntary organisation that was established in 1993. The company provides NVQs, apprenticeships and Train to Gain programmes. At the time of inspection, there were 62 learners funded by Lincolnshire and Rutland LSC and 35 learners on Department for Work and Pensions funded programmes.
Ofsted graded the overall effectiveness of provision as satisfactory. The report noted that success rates were satisfactory and had been improving in recent years. The report said that: “The standard of learners work is satisfactory overall.” Learners on all programmes were developing good childcare skills and making satisfactory progress.
Teaching and learning were satisfactory and inspectors highlighted induction, which they said was “thorough and well planned,” as a key strength. Progress reviews were thought to be weak and, along with target-setting, were listed as an area for improvement. Resources, guidance and the learning support for apprentices were all considered satisfactory. Ofsted felt the support on Train to Gain could be improved.
Leadership and management were graded as satisfactory. Inspectors said that, “insufficient use [was] made of management information,” and quality improvement procedures were incomplete. These were the main areas for improvement. However, they also listed good staff development, good promotion of equality and good partnerships with employers as key strengths for the company.
LITE (Stockport) Ltd, Stockport
Summary of grades awarded:
Effectiveness of provision Outstanding: Grade 1
Capacity to improve Outstanding: Grade 1
Achievement and standards Outstanding: Grade 1
Quality of provision Outstanding: Grade 1
Leadership and management Outstanding: Grade 1
Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Good: Grade 2
Sector subject area:
Agriculture, horticulture and animal care Outstanding: Grade 1
LITE (Stockport) Ltd provides training in animal care and veterinary nursing to 35 apprentices, 11 advanced apprentices and two E2E learners. Off-the-job training takes place at a centre in Stockport, while training for animal care takes place in the workplace. Courses are provided through contracts with Greater Manchester LSC.
Ofsted gave LITE a complimentary report and highlighted a number of strengths with the provider. They graded effectiveness of provision, capacity to improve and achievements and standards as outstanding. Success rates were seen to have improved significantly since the previous inspection. Ofsted reported that learners, “are involved in a wide range of activities,” “develop good practical skills,” and make good progression.
Several strengths were listed relating to the outstanding quality of provision. These included outstanding off-the-job training and support for learners, excellent resources, and a very good range of additional qualifications to improve learners’ employability.
Leadership and management, which was deemed outstanding, was the only area to receive some criticism from inspectors. They suggested that the induction process for new staff could be improved, as could learners’ understanding of equality and diversity. Inspectors also noted outstanding teamwork and effective social inclusion as further key strengths for LITE.
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