Lessons from the Foundation Learning
provision for the new 16 to 19 Study
Programmes
Discussion materials
Issue 3:
Developing effective work
experience opportunities
May 2013
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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About this resource

This resource is based on a thematic survey on
Lessons from the Foundation Learning provision
for the new 16 to 19 Study Programmes carried
out from September 2012 to March 2013. It
contains summary findings of each of the three
critical issues identified in the survey.

Each of the three packs suggests specific
questions for discussion. These are of course not
exhaustive, but it is hoped that providers will use
the questions as prompts to evaluate and
improve their provision. This may lead to
identifying and sharing good practice, as well as
priorities for improvement.

You can take the issues in any order and spend
as long as you like on each one. However, we
suggest that at some stage you find time to look
at all three.
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Overview of the discussion materials
These materials look at the three critical issues
emerging from the survey.
Issue 1: Attendance, retention, achievement and
progression
Issue 2: The development of English and mathematics
skills
Issue 3: Developing effective work experience
opportunities
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Scope and methodology of the survey
The survey covered Foundation Learning provision for learners aged
16 to 19 at independent learning providers and community learning
and skills providers. Almost all the providers sampled had previously
delivered Entry to Employment (E2E).
The survey sample consisted of:
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
detailed evidence and data from 26 planned inspections
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detailed data from 15 planned inspection visits
detailed evidence and data from 18 visits to providers who were
not being inspected
a review of 31 published inspection reports.
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Key findings from the survey
Survey findings: Outcomes for learners

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Two thirds of the providers in the sample offered a wide range of
employability and personal and social qualifications. Achievement rates
were good for around half of the providers
Progression rates into full-time education or training, an apprenticeship or
employment were too low
Achievement of qualifications in English and mathematics functional skills
was low, especially for level 1.
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Survey findings: The quality of teaching,
learning and assessment


Overall, the quality of teaching and learning was not good enough

The availability, use and quality of work experience placements were
poor

Access to, and quality of, impartial advice and guidance on
progression opportunities for learners varied too much.
Learners received good care and support, and providers placed a
high emphasis on learners’ welfare
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Survey findings: The effectiveness of
leadership and management

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Providers worked very effectively with partners and other local
organisations
Too few providers used data effectively to analyse performance and
inform business planning
The planned number of hours for learners to attend the provision varied
considerably from around 12 hours a week up to 30 hours.
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Issue 3
Raising the challenge: issues
for consideration by providers
Developing effective work
experience opportunities
Developing effective work experience
opportunities: Survey findings (1)
The availability, use and quality of work experience
placements were poor.
A small number of providers did not appear to recognise the
importance of work experience placements in the development of
employability skills and in supporting better progression rates.
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Developing effective work experience
opportunities: Survey findings (2)

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Three of 41 providers offered work experience placements to all their
learners
Seven providers offered work experience placements to around a third
Five providers did not offer them and had no plans to introduce them
There was too much competition for work experience placements
There were real challenges for finding construction placements.
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Developing effective work experience
opportunities: Survey findings (3)
Better provision included:
 Close partnership working with local employers, the local authority
and other local organisations
 A range of work experience opportunities including:
 visits
 tasters
 work shadowing
 work trials
 well-planned work experience placements.
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Developing effective work experience
opportunities: Survey findings (3)
The benefits included:
 Increased confidence for the learners
 The opportunity to assess skills in the workplace for both
employability and vocational qualifications
 A reference for the learner
 The opportunity for progression into an apprenticeship or
employment.
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Developing effective work experience
opportunities: Discussion points (1)
How well are we prepared for the greater emphasis on work
experience in the Study Programmes ?
 Do we have a strategy for the delivery and increase of work
experience opportunities ?
 Do we have enough work experience opportunities that enable
our learners to develop their confidence and employability skills
and get direct experience of the world of work ?
 Do we use our partnerships effectively to develop work
experience opportunities that meet the very different needs of all
our learners ?
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Developing effective work experience
opportunities: Discussion points (2)
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What challenges do we face ?
How well do we prepare our learners for work ?
How well do we assess our learners’ progress at work and give
them constructive feedback on what they do well and what we
need to improve further ?
How well do we prepare our employers? How do we ensure that
our learners’ experience at work is purposeful and builds on all
the other aspects of their individualised learning programme ?
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Developing effective work experience
opportunities: Good practice
Use the four good practice case studies mentioned in the report to
give you ideas:
The Bassetlaw Training Agency Limited
Community Training Services Limited
Economic Solutions Limited (Skills Solutions)
Roots and Shoots Limited
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
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Conclusion
Conclusion
We hope you have found this resource useful in
developing ideas for integrating effective work
experience opportunities into your provision and
for developing employability skills in your
learners.
The good practice case studies can be found on
the Ofsted website:
www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/goodpractice
We welcome comments on this training resource.
Please write to [email protected] and
ensure that you put ‘Ofsted discussion materials:
Foundation Learning survey’ in the subject box of
your email.
Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey
153 Work Placement
opportunities today!
We have a fantastic array
of Work Placement
vacancies around Greater
Manchester and
Merseyside.
Every week new employers
are secured and new
vacancies opened.
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