After visiting some of Leap-frog's 38 nurseries, interviewing staff and observing training sessions, the team of five ALI inspectors said the nursery chain's workplace learning environment was 'equipped to an exceptionally good standard' and awarded it a grade two. Grades range from one (excellent) to seven (poor).
Tracey Storey, head of personnel and training at Leapfrog, said, 'I am very pleased to receive such a positive report from ALI. Being awarded the Modern Apprenticeship contract was a real achievement for Leapfrog and it is wonderful it has been such a success after just 12 months.'
The chain currently has 53 advanced modern apprentices, aiming for NVQ level 3 and Key Skills Level 3, and 40 qualified assessors who carry out assessments within the nurseries.
Jacqueline Moss, managing director of Princess Christian Nurseries, which also received a grade two, said, 'We found the inspection process very difficult for the first two days, harder than any other inspection we have faced. But we had an open and frank discussion with the inspectors about this and they were very supportive and gave us invaluable advice. We received excellent feedback and are very pleased with the outcome.'
ALI praised Princess Christian's on-and off-the-job training, its rates of achievement for advanced modern apprentices and 'high progression rates into employment'.
However, Sandria Murkin, owner of the Westgate Nursery School near Swindon, Wiltshire, which was sharply criticised by inspectors and received a grade four, said ALI had been 'over-critical'. She added, 'We are obviously used to inspections, but not such a long and tough one. We were treated as if we were a major company, when clearly we are not.'
Ms Murkin said she felt the Learning and Skills Council should have provided more support and information about the inspection process and what Westgate was required to show. The ALI inspectors said the nursery school's achievement rates were poor, that 'no learner has yet achieved the full modern apprenticeship framework' and that 'none of the learners is aware of the requirements of the key skills qualification or started their training or assessment'.
Nursery chains have found inspections by ALI, which was established in 2000 to bring inspection of adult learning and work-based training under one body, far tougher than previous inspections by Ofsted or the training and enterprise councils.
