University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices value highly the pastoral and practical support expertly given by their lecturers and employer liaison tutors. Nursing associate apprentices receive effective skills support. Apprentices develop their ability to use more complex language in their writing. As a result, they are now able to better articulate their arguments and produce formal documents, such as employer quarterly reports. Apprentices with learning difficulties and/or disabilities receive the support and adjustments they need from their lecturers, employer liaison tutors and specialist staff to be successful in their courses.

Apprentices work collaboratively and share their knowledge and experience from their different workplaces. Nursing associate apprentices who work in mental health settings share their knowledge with their peers. They talk about how to escalate patient's mental health concerns effectively. Apprentices know the importance of giving others a voice while having their thoughts and opinions heard. Embedded electronic and system design and development engineer apprentices listen attentively to others' views in meetings. They allow everyone present to play an active part in the discussions. As a result, apprentices learn from each other, as well as developing teamworking skills.

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Since the previous inspection, leaders have prioritised making improvements to their apprenticeship courses. Leaders and managers have strengthened their oversight of the quality of their courses. Lecturers, managers and leaders now closely monitor the progress of apprentices. Lecturers and employer liaison tutors frequently identify those apprentices at risk of not achieving their final assessments. Academic staff ensure that they act when apprentices fall behind. As a result, most apprentices complete and achieve their apprenticeships. Most apprentices who complete their apprenticeships gain merit or distinction grades where these are available.

Leaders work collaboratively with stakeholders in the region to ensure that their apprenticeship courses contribute to meeting the skills needs of the region. Leaders and managers have worked with local education partners effectively. They have ensured that there are links between the level 3 courses offered at partners and the levels 5 and 6 apprenticeships in areas such as occupational therapy and nursing associate. Leaders have worked effectively with local health partners to plan new healthcare apprenticeships in radiotherapy and speech and language therapy. In response to employer feedback, lecturers on the nursing associate standard adapted their teaching approach. They now place more emphasis on teaching about academic research in this area. This has helped apprentices to be better prepared for their evidence-based modules.

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