Apprentices not receiving ‘regular high quality training’ from provider

Apprentices are being let down by a provider that is failing to ensure they receive regular high-quality training, inspectors have said.

A monitoring inspection carried out by education watchdog Ofsted, has found that Rochdale’s Kashmir Youth Project is making insufficient progress in key areas.

The report states that leaders at the Belfield-based organisation – which provides training for 53 apprentices – have not ‘focused sufficiently on the delivery of the new apprenticeship contract’.

It adds: “Leaders and managers do not ensure that current apprentices receive regular and high-quality training. They have recognised the need to reorganise apprentices’ training programmes and are currently doing so.

“However, trainers focus too much on working through units with apprentices in the one-to-one and group sessions and do not pay sufficient attention to setting targets for apprentices’ personal development.

“Trainers do not challenge apprentices to reach their full potential.”

Two-thirds of young people enrolled with KYP are studying an apprenticeship in children’s and young people’s workforce, while the remaining are involved in sectors ranging from business administration to adult care.

But the report finds that not  all apprentices receive their full entitlement to off-the-job training time during working hours and, furthermore,  do not ‘develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours’.

There are also criticisms that apprentices are put on placements for the same length of time regardless of their ‘prior knowledge, skills, qualifications or experience’ and governors do not ‘provide sufficient challenges’ over their progress.

The report adds: “The feedback that trainers provide to apprentices on assignments and other written work is insufficient.

“They do not guide apprentices clearly on how to improve the quality of their work. Tutors’ feedback on marked work does not routinely draw apprentices’ attention to spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.”

However, the report is not entirely critical, noting there is a ‘clear focus and vision for the future of KYP’ and that Rochdale Council views KYP as a key partner in promoting social inclusion.

It also praises KYP leaders for  establishing ‘positive working relationships with employers’ and says governors have taken steps to address the quality of teaching and learning apprentices receive by establishing a committee that will report directly to board members.

The report adds that ‘sufficient, experienced and well-qualified staff’ have been employed to deliver the apprenticeship contract.

KYP apprentices are described as ‘positive and confident’ and the report notes that they receive ‘good pastoral support from trainers throughout their programmes’.

The provider was also found to be making ‘reasonable progress’  in ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements are in place.

The report adds: “Apprentices know how to report any concerns they have. KYP staff take their concerns seriously and respond to them appropriately. Apprentices feel safe and inspectors did not observe any who were at immediate risk.”

KYP did not respond to a request for a comment.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter