Ofsted ‘good rating’ for Adult Education Budget (AEB) – a nominee’s perspective

It doesn’t matter how well organised or prepared you think you are, how well you know your provision, your colleagues and your learners, when you take the call, your heart immediately skips a beat. Let it, but do not panic!

This is what you have been expecting, not exactly when, but you’ll have an idea from either your New Provider Monitoring Visit or last Inspection as to when you will be welcoming and showcasing your provision.

Be prepared.

This is something that I have learnt from working with  my Director Asi Panditharatna. You can never be too prepared!

Start building folders of evidence. Do this way in advance of when you think you’ll be inspected  and have key documents ready, to share with Ofsted at very short notice. Have control of these folders so only key colleagues can add evidence and they don’t become a dumping ground of “just in case” evidence. Whatever you present to Ofsted, it needs to be relevant, current and reflects your provision in the “here and now”

Some types of evidence to have ready. The couple of days’ notice of your Inspection will fly by and the more preparation and control you have in advance, the better.

• Board Meetings, Advisory Groups and minutes that demonstrate the challenge and direction your provision
• Data and MIS
• Learner feedback and evaluation of your provision
• Safeguarding policies and evidence of safer recruitment
• Standardisation, Internal Quality Assurance and impact of Observations of Teaching Learning and Assessment
• Scheme of Work
• Timetable of delivery, key names of contact and an organisational chart.
• Have a presentation on your provision

Plan in advance who will be part of your Inspection. Take time as part of your ongoing preparation to understand your colleagues, where their strengths are and who  will be able to take the pressure of being interviewed by an Ofsted Inspector.

If you’ve never experienced this before, it can be daunting and you or your colleagues might be tempted to put too much of a gloss on your provision. Don’t!  Keep to the facts, don’t bluff and bluster and certainly don’t over exaggerate  your provision.

Agree in advance who will be your Nominee, your support Nominee and those who will be expected to be included in your Inspection. Get your learners involved, ask them what they think of your provision, conduct your own Deep Dives and get your learners talking! How great is it to have articulate learners talking of their pride of being part of your organisation. If you have that, bottle it! It’s priceless.

Talk your Inspectors through your provision. How relevant is your SAR and what difference is the QIP making to your areas of development. How does your job role and that of your colleagues impact on your learner experience. What is it really like to be a learner and a member of staff at your provision.

The actual Inspection is exhausting. Being on high alert for days on end can and will take its toll on you, so make sure as Nominee you have your support crew around you. If you’ve identified the roles and responsibilities as part of your preparation for Inspection, it is easier but there is and always will be curve balls that you weren’t expecting. Train strikes, staff off sick or on leave, WIFI not working or a fire drill for good measure. Good for Ofsted to see an provision adapt to real life challenges but not something that you would actively encourage as part for your inspection!

Every Inspection is different and every Inspector is different but as Nominee, it’s your job to manage your team and your Inspectors well. It’s hard, it’s stressful, it’s brilliant and rewarding.

But then that’s easy for me to say. On our first Full Inspection, we were Judged Good across all key Judgement areas.

Quality of Education. Good.

• Assessment is used well including observation, questioning, mock tests and quizzes to check learner understanding. Learners are given additional guidance with any misconception around learning.
• Formative strategies are used to enhance learning including, research to complete presentations to peers and role play which gives a sound understanding of context 
• Learning is revisited, explored and linked to real life. Sound understanding is developed as learners use complex statistical information to enhance knowledge. Language used is technical 

Behaviours and Attitudes: Good

• In sessions, behaviours are positive, attentive and learners enjoy lessons. Learners respect each other and respond well to others. 
• It is a calm and welcoming environment.  
• Learners have a good understanding of behaviours suitable for the workplace. 
• Safeguarding is embedded into curriculum well and this was observed by Inspectors. 
• Apprentices feel safe 

Personal Development: Good

• There is a wide range of activities and resources to help leaners be confident and work ready. 
• Learners’ transferable skills and job options that they were not previously aware of or considered, are explored. 
• There is effective support in learners next steps with CV and interview skills and learners become work ready as a result. 
• Enrichment is embedded within the curriculum which broaden work opportunities
• Learners find out about their own skills using Kudos AD  Career planning for adults – Kudos AD – CASCAID  and teaching materials are tailored to learner career aspirations.  
• There are individual career activities that include job clubs. 
• Physical and mental wellbeing is in the curriculum and learners can apply to their own lives and is improved because of their learning. 

Leadership and Management: Good

• Clear vision and mission that aligns to the Forward Trust 
• Inspectors have heard and seen the high expectations that ES (Employment Services) have for their learners that are from disadvantaged backgrounds 
• Leaders link well to other parts of business  
• There is range of quality assurance in place, and it is making an impact on the quality of education. 
• Governance is clear and in place with additional scrutiny from the Advisory and Trustee groups. All are kept up to date and ES are high on the agenda of these groups. 
• There are effective partnerships supporting job interviews, local authority working and advisory groups. Partners appreciate this. 
• Staff are proud to work here and are supported with CPD (Continued Professional Development) that is relevant to their roles. 
• Safeguarding is effective. 

Don’t take my word for it. Here’s our Ofsted report

The Forward Trust – Open – Find an Inspection Report – Ofsted

I’m very proud of the work the team have worked so hard to achieve and the positive impact it has made and is continuing to make with those we support. I’m not an expert in being a Nominee but have lots of experience of having good and maybe not so good Inspections, so if you’d like an informal conversation with me or the team, as part of your Inspection readiness, please reach out and make a connection.

Next stop…Outstanding?