Digital Advantage

Overview

Digital Advantage provides a "welcoming, calm and highly inclusive learning environment" for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The inspection found that staff establish "highly positive and professional working relationships" with learners, fostering significant confidence and resilience. Leaders have created "ambitious, individualised curriculums" that equip learners with digital skills and prepare them for employment in the digital economy.

Strengths

• Staff model "professional standards and inclusive practices," helping learners develop "significant confidence, resilience and problem-solving skills."
• The provider has formed "highly effective partnerships with employers," allowing learners to work on "real industry projects" and access high-quality placements.
• Tutors provide "detailed and carefully crafted developmental feedback," enabling learners to make "good and often substantial progress."
• Learners benefit from "industry standard digital equipment" and expert support from staff qualified in "pastoral care, behavioural support and psychology."
• The quality of learners’ work is high, meeting "employers’ high expectations and industry requirements."

Areas to improve

• Ensure the new gateway curriculum meets the needs and future aspirations of learners.
• Ensure learners continue to develop their English and mathematical skills to a high standard, specifically by correcting spelling and grammatical errors in draft work.
• Establish the new governance structure fully to ensure it is effective.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."