Ambulance apprenticeship course rated good

SCAS was visited by Ofsted inspectors in May

The ambulance service for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire has improved the performance of its apprenticeship programme since it was told to make it better two-and-a-half years ago.

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) NHS Trust's apprenticeship programme was rated good following an Ofsted inspection in May and was told the attitudes demonstrated were outstanding.

SCAS's programme, based in Newbury, Berkshire, was rated as requiring improvement when Ofsted last reviewed it in November and December 2022.

Inspectors found this year that SCAS's 57 apprentices were "highly resilient" and able to "adapt quickly to unpredictable circumstances".

They also said SCAS's leaders had planned its curriculum "coherently so that apprentices build their expertise securely".

But Ofsted found assessment outcomes could be used to provide apprentices with "meaningful targets at progress reviews".

They could also improve by making sure that they are aware of the "wider opportunities" open to them in the NHS trust and provide educators with further training to develop their teaching skills.