New Provider Monitoring Visits:
New training providers should expect a monitoring visit by Ofsted within 24 months of enrolling their first apprentices. Providers will be given 2 days’ notice of the visit and Inspectors will normally spend 2 days’ making their judgment on the 3 themes:
- Leadership
- The quality and outcomes of training
- Safeguarding
During a new provider monitoring visit, Inspectors make judgments on the ‘progress’ made by the new provider. The outcomes and the report of these visits will then be published on Ofsted’s website. Judgements are based on:
- Insufficient progress
- Reasonable progress
- Significant progress
Providers that are awarded ‘reasonable’ or ‘significant’ progress in their new provider monitoring visit do not always achieve ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ grades at their first full inspection. Progress must continue to be made, particularly on any weaknesses identified to achieve a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ grade at full inspection.
The outcome of the new provider monitoring visit will determine the timing of the first full Ofsted inspection and, where necessary, any intervention action taken by the ESFA according to their policy.
Evoko has worked with a range of apprenticeship providers including universities and independent training organisations, to support them for future new provider monitoring visits and Ofsted inspections.
With new provider monitoring visits, we have reviewed each theme with regards to specific key questions and deep dived into recent Ofsted feedback. This has enabled us to triangulate information allowing for detailed support and exploring potential evidence that could be used to demonstrate progress in each theme.
What follows is a snapshot of a specific key question within each theme and recent Ofsted feedback.
Theme 1: How much progress have leaders made in ensuring that the provider is meeting all the requirements of successful apprenticeship provision?
Does effective governance challenge leaders?
“Leaders have established an appropriate governance structure. Board members are suitably experienced and clear about their role to support and challenge leaders regarding the operational effectiveness of the provision to meet the needs of apprentices.”
“Because of the lack of governance arrangements, leaders have not been held to account for the quality of education and training apprentices receive. As a result, leaders have been slow to identify and scrutinise the strengths and weaknesses of the provision.”
Theme 2: What progress have leaders and managers made in ensuring that apprentices benefit from high-quality training that leads to positive outcomes for apprentices?
Does the provider assess apprentices’ starting points to ensure that they are on the right programme?
“Trainers/assessors undertake a vocational skills scan with apprentices when they start their apprenticeship to find out what they already know and can do. Trainers use the information gathered through the initial assessment to plan and sequence the curriculum so that it builds on apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours in a logical way over time.”
“Staff do not assess in sufficient detail apprentices’ existing knowledge and skills at the start of their programme. Staff do not share assessment outcomes with apprentices or use them to set sufficiently specific targets and plan learning programmes.”
Theme 3: How much progress have leaders and managers made in ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements are in place?
Are staff qualified and trained in safeguarding?
“Leaders provide appropriate safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training for their staff. The designated safeguarding lead and their deputies are appropriately trained to carry out their roles.”
“Leaders have not developed an effective culture of safeguarding within the organisation. The designated safeguarding officer (DSO) has not completed suitable training to perform the role. Staff have not completed up-to-date safeguarding training to ensure that, in particular, young apprentices are safe.”
We found some fascinating insights into each theme and identified key approaches to evidence recent new provider monitoring visit Ofsted feedback. If you want to find out more about our research and how this could support you plan for a new provider monitoring visit or full inspection, please contact us at hello@evoko.co.uk