Apprenticeship Providers Preparing Managers for Ofsted Inspection
This Ofsted Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Inspection course is a completely new course. It was first introduced in 2021 and significantly enhanced throughout 2022. It is specifically developed for managers in apprenticeship learning providers, who want to learn more about how best to present their work, in the most advantageous way to Ofsted inspectors.
This is increasingly important given the OFSTED Guidance 11 July 2022: All providers that deliver apprenticeships (and are not a FE college, sixth form college or designated institution) will receive a full inspection by September 2025, unless they have had a full inspection since April 2021”
The course leaders are all skilled trainers and facilitators with an immense amount of Ofsted experience. They have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for their subject. As one delegate said:
“I never thought a day spent talking about inspection could be so engrossing.”
The Ofsted Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Inspection course is practical and packed with useful information. The presenters draw on their own experience as Ofsted inspectors, to help you to understand and interpret the inspection framework as it applies to the delivery of apprenticeships.
Institute of Leadership and Management approved training centre for Manager and Director Training and Workshops
It is an in-depth and information-packed one-day course preparing managers at all levels in the organisation to present their work confidently to inspectors. By attending a specialist apprenticeship course, delegates will not have to listen in while we discuss specialist topics, which may not be relevant to them.
We will be able to concentrate more on matters that affect apprenticeship providers such as:
- Managing inspection for provision that is geographically spread and employer based
- On and off the job training, coaching, and assessing and how to evaluate it
- Employer involvement in the apprenticeship: reviews, assessment, supervision, on-the-job coaching, task allocation
- Pre-entry guidance: the role of sales teams and training staff; involving employers; right learner right course
- Preparing for end point assessment
- Apprentices’ contribution to the workplace
- Evaluating progression and destinations
Formal Certificates of Professional Development will be issued to participants who successfully complete this training course
“The Call” for many managers is the cue for crisis mode, ushering in days (and nights) of hectic activity: torrents of emails, anxious double checking and urgent last-minute flapping. It doesn’t have to be like that. Although we don’t know in advance when Ofsted will come to inspect, we do know that they will, either for a full inspection or for a short inspection or a monitoring visit.
The Ofsted Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Inspection course leaders have extensive experience both as inspectors and practitioners. They will draw on this expertise to give managers an insight into what Ofsted inspectors do and to apply the Education Inspection Framework in the context of apprenticeships. By the end of the course delegates will know more about what to expect and what they need to do in order to be best prepared.
Chartered Management Institute Recognised Training Centre for Manager and Director Training Courses
Please note that the workshop is developed and delivered by Excellence in Learning. It is not an official Ofsted event. Where official Ofsted Nominee Training is available, we would recommend attendance at both, as the content emphasis may differ.
Maximum of 10 delegates per course
Formal Certificates of Professional Development will be issued to participants
These courses are recognised for CPD purposes by most professional institutes and associations including the Institute of Leadership and Management, the Institute of Directors, the Law Society, the CIM, the CMI, the ICAEW, the Institute of Learning and the CIPD.
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Outstanding Ofsted Inspection Courses and Workshops Delegate Feedback
‘Very informative with very useful handouts and ideas to take back and practical.’
Quality Manager, Leeds City Council‘This was an extremely useful session, which highlighted useful pointers to prepare for new inspection. The deliverer was extremely knowledgeable and pragmatic and was very personable. Thank you.’
Head of F/S & LS, Chesterfield College‘Excellent overview of how to prepare, not just for inspection, but how to improve the whole provision.’
Quality Assurance Manager, Training for Travel‘Very detailed workshop about what to expect when notified of inspection. Excellent facilitator, encouraging wide ranging discussions.’
Business Improvement Director, JHP Group‘I would highly recommend it: It has opened my eyes to the Ofsted process and reassured/prepared me. It has also given me practical ideas for tackling Ofsted preparation.’
Lecturer, St Mary’s University College -
Apprenticeship Providers Preparing Managers for Inspection Course Overview
This Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Ofsted Inspection course looks at full inspection under the Education Inspection Framework 2019, which is effective through 2022. It provides useful pointers for those who have experience under previous frameworks about what is different; and offers guidance for those expecting short inspections or monitoring visits. By joining this course delegates will learn or refresh their knowledge of inspection so that they are able to prepare well in advance and anticipate and answer inspectors’ questions.
The Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Ofsted Inspection course addresses aspects of the EIF that are of particular relevance to apprenticeship inspection for example:
- How well the curriculum meets the principles and requirements of apprenticeship
- The quality of engagement with employers at all stages of the apprenticeship programme
- The extent to which vocational and technical knowledge that meets industry practice
- Apprentices’ development of skills and knowledge to contribute to the workplace, complete the apprenticeship and progress
- Safeguarding arrangement for young and vulnerable apprentices
It also provides space to consider areas of the EIF that may, at first glance, seem less relevant to apprenticeship providers, to make sure that they are interpreted correctly.
The full day session represents excellent value for money, giving enough time for delegates to reflect on their own provision and share insights and ideas with peers and the course leader. As well as preparing for inspection week itself it will help delegates to identify any areas for improvement that they can address prior to inspection.
The Ofsted Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Inspection course leaders are all experienced inspectors and have significant recent experience in the sector in a variety of settings. They will draw on this expertise to bring the subject to life and answer the questions that matter to you making the course both informative and enjoyable.
This means that the courses are practical and packed with useful information. The presenters will draw on their own experiences to help you to understand and interpret the inspection framework, as it applies to the delivery of apprenticeships.
The course leaders and presenters will structure the sessions to allow you to discuss, absorb and reflect on the course content.
They have a genuine enthusiasm for their subject. As one delegate said:
“I never thought a day spent talking about inspection could be so engrossing.”
Ofsted inspection is challenging but it should not be stressful. This Ofsted Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Inspection course will help managers to feel prepared and confident about inspection. It will help them to ensure that inspection week goes smoothly and prepare them to benefit from the opportunity to learn from the experience.
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Aims and Objectives Apprenticeship Providers Preparing Managers for Ofsted Inspection
After attending this Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Ofsted Inspection Delegates will be better able to:
- Understand the inspection process and be able to anticipate questions by knowing about:
- How inspectors use information about a provider to prepare for inspection
- The types of inspection and methods used by inspectors
- The evidence used for inspection – the Education Inspection Framework
- How inspectors arrive at their judgements
- Prepare their organisation for inspection by:
- Identifying strengths and weaknesses and address them through a realistic self-assessment and improvement planning cycle
- Briefing colleagues without causing information overload
- Collecting evidence routinely for presenting to inspectors, and for use in self-assessment
- Being “inspection-ready” in preparation for notification of inspection
- Manage the inspection successfully by:
- Know what happens when during inspection week
- Preparing well organised communications between all of those involved
- Presenting evidence and, if necessary, challenging judgements
- Learning from the experience and action planning.
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Ofsted Apprenticeship Providers Preparing Managers Course Leaders
Our original Ofsted Inspections course leader and presenter was an Ofsted Inspector, who was selected to continue to inspect with Ofsted after its September 2015 “cull”. He has personally taken part in hundreds of Ofsted inspections and is acknowledged as a leading authority within the Ofsted community. He also has experience as the Chair of a College Governing Body and earlier in his careers, was the Chief Executive of one of the UK’s largest specialist Training Providers.
All of the current Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Ofsted Inspection course leaders and presenters are equally talented and as highly experienced, with each having over thirty years of experience in the sector. They are experienced Ofsted inspectors and have worked extensively in further education in various roles including managing apprenticeship provision and supporting apprenticeship providers. The course leaders and presenters, either currently carry out work as Ofsted Inspectors, or have recently done so.
They can help you to look at your own provision and inspection preparation both from a provider perspective and from the perspective of an Ofsted inspector.
This means that these Ofsted Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Inspection courses are practical and packed with useful information. The presenters draw on their own experiences to help you to understand and interpret the inspection framework as it applies to the delivery of apprenticeships. They will structure the sessions to allow you to discuss, absorb and reflect on the course content.
The course leaders are skilled trainers and facilitators and they have a genuine enthusiasm for their subject. As one delegate said:
“I never thought a day spent talking about inspection could be so engrossing.”
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Course Content Ofsted Apprenticeship Providers Preparing for Inspection
- Planning the inspection: from the first phone call to the start of inspection.
This Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Ofsted Inspection session enables delegates to become more familiar with how inspectors evaluate desk-based data to plan inspection. We will use questions and practical activities to reflect on:
- How the Lead Inspector uses information to plan the inspection and prepare a rationale.
- How Ofsted Inspectors use information to prepare for inspection.
- What information managers need to prepare.
- Delegates’ ability to articulate their own areas of work.
- During inspection: inspection methodology
Delegates will explore how inspectors plan and conduct their inspection and will consider how these methods would apply in their setting and the implications for their inspection preparation:
- Deep dives
- Visits to learning environments including work-place visits
- Work scrutiny
- Review of data – what it is and what it isn’t
- Discussion with learners, teachers, managers and employers
- Review of documents
- During inspection: Evaluating evidence
How inspectors use the evidence generated to evaluate and reach judgements. This session includes an in-depth examination of the Education Inspection Framework, what it means in the context of different settings and the implications for inspection. Delegates will gain:
- Experience of applying inspection methodology to answer questions posed by the EIF
- An understanding of how inspectors arrive at their judgements,
- An opportunity to think about how to present their area during inspection
- Help to evaluate their own provision and ideas to make improvements long before inspectors arrive
- The inspection from arrival to departure: practical questions
Having worked through the long-term preparation for inspection, this session focusses on inspection week itself and how to manage it successfully:
- What happens when
- Surveys
- Meetings
- Internal communications/briefing staff
- Housekeeping, maps and timetables, domestics and safety
- Listening
- Influencing and challenging
- Following inspection
How do you make the most of the inspection to improve your provision: Reflection, communication and action-planning. What to do if things have gone wrong.
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Who Should Attend This Apprenticeship Providers Preparing Managers for Inspection Course
This in depth one-day Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Ofsted Inspection workshop will be of value to managers and leaders at all levels within providers of apprenticeships who are subject to inspection under the Education Inspection Framework for Further Education and Skills.
It is essential for managers responsible for teaching and learning who will have a direct role in presenting their work to inspectors. It is also of interest to those responsible for other areas, for example, employer engagement, learner support, human resources, finance and information who will also contribute to the inspection and need to understand the process. It is as relevant to managers from sub-contractor organisations, as it is to those who hold direct contracts.
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In-House Course for Staff Training and Development
This Apprenticeship Providers, Preparing Managers for Ofsted Inspection training workshop, along with most of our other best practice training workshops, can be delivered as an internal training course at your premises. Even with groups as small as 6 delegates, the course fees per person for internal training workshops can be lower than for open events. The potential savings are even greater, if the travel time and the travel costs of the delegates are included.
Running training workshops internally is very convenient many of our clients and allows the participants to explore how key issues will impact on them and their organisation. Then as a team they can begin to agree upon development action plans and assign priorities. This approach is favoured by many of our clients as it combines a high quality service with excellent value for money and is a highly effective route for staff development.
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Certificates of Professional Development
This course is recognised for CPD purposes by most professional institutes and associations including the Law Society, the CIM, the CMI, the ICAEW, the Institute of Learning and the CIPD. Formal Certificates of Professional Development will be issued by email to participants who successfully complete this course. These certificates will enable participants to evidence the update of their CPD records. The workshop will consider how to best apply the knowledge gained by the delegates upon their return to the workplace. This element of the programme is designed to maximise the benefits of attending and enable participants to make valued judgments when recording CPD activities
