How to improve your Ofsted grade by supporting learners with additional learning needs

Apprenticeship providers could be receiving lower Ofsted grades because they do not have provisions in place to proactively identify and support learners with hidden, additional learning needs.

On their recent “Moving Forward” report Ofsted explained that many young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are poorly prepared for adult life.  Nearly 50% of the providers visited did not have adequate strategies, experience or expertise to support their learners with learning difficulties or disabilities. Ofsted proceeded to explain that this is leading to too many learners on programmes not progressing into further learning, employment or independent/supported living.

With current Ofsted inspections focussing strongly on the progress of learners and apprentices enrolled at the time of the inspection; it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that providers cater for the needs of all individual learners and can measure distance travelled effectively.

CognAssist has partnered with ex-Ofsted Director for FE & Skills and industry expert, Marina Gaze to offer a series of free webinars exploring aspects of the Ofsted inspection, the Common Inspection Framework and how providers can better support learners.

Apprenticeships are one of the main areas that have been recognised as needing on-going support for Ofsted inspections and with more and more young people, and adults, declaring that they have additional learning needs, or the needs being identified; the support given to these learners may well be critical to inspection outcomes.  

Our recent interview with Marina highlights the industry challenges and where there are solutions available to improve Ofsted inspection grades with regards to identifying and supporting learner’s additional learning needs.

Marina explains that “the biggest issue challenging everybody is the ability to accurately identify each learner’s starting point and to individualise learning for each learner.”

Under personal development, behaviour and welfare in the ‘Common Inspection Framework’ it is explained that all groups of learners should achieve equally, this includes learners with additional learning needs.   

Provider’s achieving outstanding in this area will:

• Have learners that are confident and self-assured.
• Have excellent attitudes to learning.
• Have a strong, positive impact on their progress.
• Have learners that are proud of their achievements and take pride in the work they complete with the provider and in the workplace.

Marina highlighted that “One of the great advantages of CognAssist is that it is raising awareness of the issue. That there are probably are all these hidden apprentices who probably do leave early because their needs haven’t been met and here we are talking about it. With CognAssist there is a solution. A solution to help providers identify those apprentices and put support in place for learners at all levels.”

Our solution has demonstrated that approximately 20% of all learners have an additional learning need. It is imperative that providers are able to accurately identify such learners, put measures in place to support them and evidence that support.

These exclusive webinars include videos from Marina, explaining the industry challenges and solutions available to support improved Ofsted inspection grades.

The webinars are ideal for those leading on the inspection process and who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of common inspection framework and where they can improve.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to get insider knowledge.

Register for one of our webinars starting October 18^th here or to find out more please email Leah Grimshaw or call on 07766916221.