Lessons from Foundation Learning Study Programmes: Attendance, Retention, Achievement, and Progression

1. Lessons from the Foundation Learning provision for the new 16 to 19 Study Programmes Discussion materials Issue 1: Attendance, retention, achievement and progression May 2013 Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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: • detailed evidence and data from 26 planned inspections • detailed evidence and data from 18 visits to providers who were not being inspected • detailed data from 15 planned inspection visits • a review of 31 published inspection reports. Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

5. Key findings from the survey

6. Survey findings: Outcomes for learners • 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

7. Survey findings: The quality of teaching, learning and assessment • Overall, the quality of teaching and learning was not good enough • Learners received good care and support, and providers placed a high emphasis on learners’ welfare • 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. Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

8. Survey findings: The effectiveness of leadership and management • 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

9. Raising the challenge: issues for consideration by providersAttendance, retention, achievement and progression Issue 1

10. Attendance, retention, achievement and progression: Survey findings (1) • Progression rates into full-time education or training, an apprenticeship or employment for the total number of leavers from the providers who provided data for 2010/11 and 2011/12, were low at an average of 50% and 49%, respectively • Progression rates in 2011/12 varied from 8% to 87% and were below 50% for 25 of the 56 providers that provided data • Progression rates for leavers on Foundation Learning provision had dropped in comparison with those for E2E for 25 of the 48 providers who had data for this former programme. Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

11. Attendance, retention, achievement and progression: Survey findings (2) • Achievement rates for vocational qualifications were good for around half of the providers • Achievement rates for functional skills at entry levels were satisfactory • Achievement rates for functional skills at level 1 were unacceptable. • (Achievement rates were based on leavers registered for qualifications but data returns showed low numbers of leavers registered for qualifications ) Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

12. Attendance, retention, achievement and progression: Survey findings (3) • Too few providers used data effectively to analyse performance and inform business planning • Over half of the providers had not systematically recorded learners’ destinations since the start of the Foundation Learning provision when they no longer received payment for progression • In nearly half of the 18 providers visited, managers did not routinely analyse data on attendance, retention, achievement or progression to identify which areas of the provision or groups of learners were underperforming. Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

13. Attendance, retention, achievement and progression: Discussion points (1) • What are our learners’ significant barriers to attending regularly and staying on the programme? • Who are the learners that have completed the programme in the past two years and have progressed? Are there any common circumstances? • What made a difference for them? • Are there any case studies of individuals that have overcome significant barriers to learning? • What made a difference? • What can we learn from these success stories? Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

14. Attendance, retention, achievement and progression: Discussion points (2) Have we got the following right? (Part 1) Recruitment and induction: Do our learners understand the structure and purpose of the programme? Are we ‘selling’ the programme as a step to a positive future that can build on their skills and tap into their potential? Initial assessment: Are we emphasising our learners’ strengths enough to motivate them? Are we focusing on what they need to achieve for their next step? Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

15. Attendance, retention, achievement and progression: Discussion points (3) Have we got the following right? (Part 2) The learning programme: Have we got the range and content of activities right to help our learners develop the skills and confidence each individual learner needs for the next step? Are the activities challenging and interesting enough? Progress reviews: Do we give our learners enough constructive feedback on their progress in relation to what they need to do to progress to the next step and be successful? Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

16. Attendance, retention, achievement and progression: Discussion points (4) • How can we use data on the following to improve retention, achievement and progression for all our learners? • The attendance patterns across different groups and individuals, classes and tutors • The retention patterns for different groups, work areas and sites • The achievement rates for different groups, vocational areas, functional skills and tutors • The progression rates for different groups and work areas. Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

17. Attendance, retention, achievement and progression: Discussion points (5) • How can we use data and other information, such as feedback, to: • identify problem areas? • analyse what the issues are? • identify, implement and review actions to improve? • set individual and team targets to encourage staff to take more responsibility for the success of their area? • analyse performance and inform business planning? • Do we share and discuss data reports with our staff? Ofsted’s discussion materials: Foundation Learning survey

18. Conclusion

19. Conclusion We hope you have found this resource useful in helping you to evaluate and develop your Foundation Learning provision to improve your learners’ attendance, retention and achievement, as well as their progression to further education, training or employment. We welcome comments on this training resource. Please write to enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk 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