The challenge
As a relatively new apprenticeship provider, Educationwise Academy was rapidly developing its provision and preparing for its first full Ofsted inspection earlier than expected. While their monitoring visit showed promising progress, the team recognised that learner support was an area that could be strengthened. Support was largely based on learners self-disclosing additional needs or tutors’ instincts, with no formal system to identify every learner requiring extra help. They needed a more reliable and evidence-based way to ensure all learners received the right support to reach their potential.
- Learner support relied on self-disclosure and tutor intuition rather than clear evidence.
- No consistent process for identifying and addressing all learning needs.
- A desire to strengthen learner support and overall quality before Ofsted inspection.
The solution
Educationwise embedded Cognassist into their initial assessment and enrolment process, ensuring every learner completed a digital cognitive assessment alongside other entry checks. This gave tutors early insights into how each learner thinks and learns, helping them tailor support and place learners on the most suitable programme. Cognassist data was also integrated into weekly reporting and became part of Educationwise’s quality assurance framework. Through robust staff training and consistent implementation, Cognassist became a core part of their learner journey — not an optional add-on — empowering tutors and learners alike.