Official Register of Driving Instructors (ORDIT) Inspection

​23/05/2016 ORDIT Inspection 10:30am
Today I had an ORDIT inspection, I have had a number of inspections before but I have decided that I would write this one up for the benefit of any ADIs who are considering becoming ORDIT registered.
Planning
I had received a phone call a while back from the SE to arrange a mutually convenient time for the inspection, I still needed to make arrangements with a client but as I knew the inspection would be taking place around 2 months ago I had already asked a client if they would be willing to help. First hurdle overcome date and time agreed. I was using my vehicle as the training premises and it was cleaned inside and out the afternoon before.
I knew that the SE would require to see my reference books and training material. I use a distance learning package for theory test training and can recommend the online version of driving test success by focus multi media. I had the reference books available in a box for the SE to see on the back seat of the car. They only need to flick through to see you are using the correct material. We source our material from Mac McDade of Ideas for ADI’s.
In addition, our client has a course book that is filled out after each session with feedback forms, assessment sheets and action plans plus a record of progress. These are Tri-Coaching Partnership Products and are perfectly acceptable for an ORDIT inspection. The SE was pleased to see these and also I made them aware that the client receives a power point presentation after each session is delivered. We hold electronic records plus paper records for the client. The training is logged and signed off, once the training is complete the online record is filled out to trigger the next e-mail. The SE mentioned that home study is an essential part to becoming an ADI. This all met the criteria on the form which is about training offered, training resources and training records and no comments were made.
I had pictured what I would do on the training session and had a route prepared that would fit the learning outcomes. I met the client half an hour early to put them at their ease as quite often the trainee can end up extremely nervous and the learning outcomes may need to be changed.
I briefed the trainee on the way to the test Centre and agreed we would recap session 9 of the Tri-Coaching TCIT product which is the classic Fault identification, analysis and remedial action but with an emphasis on feedback. I said I would recap this for the benefit of the SE.
Meet and greet
I took the trainee into the waiting room with me 5 minutes before the start and had agreed that I would introduce them and then if they didn’t mind go and wait in the car, while I outlined the lesson to the SE and showed them the TCIT course book and record of progress.
The training session
A little bit of breathing on my behalf to get a relaxed concentration and also making sure that I would be comfortable, putting my jacket in the boot of the car along with my phone, which was on airplane mode. I got in and smiled at my trainee and asked if they were comfortable and ready to start. The SE had already spoken to the trainee about the fact they were assessing me and not them.
I recapped the topics that we were doing and had agreed to brief them on the way to the training area, the SE, was aware of this but only having an hour you can only give a snapshot of your training standards. On the way I asked questions about the trainee’s opinion of fault id, analysis and remedial action. The subject was emerging junctions there was no need to mention the subject I had complete faith in my trainee that they knew the subject as they had passed part 1 and 2 with myself.
It took around 7 minutes to drive to the training location and I stayed out of role as a learner the whole time. When we arrived I checked that the trainee knew what was intended and with confirmation of that I asked them what specifically did they want to improve in this training session today? The learning outcomes were agreed, these were to give instructions earlier and to pull over for feedback sessions. We agreed that we would do 3 junctions initially and then stop for them to use feedback and then I would come out of role and use feedback with them.
I didn’t want to do too many junctions as in my experience trainees need a little time to warm up. I asked them to take a moment to breathe and relax and focus on what they are trying to achieve and then when they were ready I said they should say to me drive on when you’re ready.
All the first 3 junctions were right turn emerges and my first fault is not too signal as this is not too difficult for the trainee to handle but starts straight away. They managed to identify the fault but were unable to analyse or rectify the fault so I prompted a little with words about other vehicle like they don’t seem to know where I am going. We pulled over and stopped after turning right as we would be able to do another 3 emerges to the right from this new location. We were on a housing estate with a bus route which was light with traffic. At this stage staying in role as the learner I asked how was I doing and I got that great feedback not bad. I asked if there was anything I was doing well and the trainee responded with some more positive feedback and then went onto to talk to me about signals. I then came out of role and used those 3 classic questions, what are you doing well, what isn’t going so well, what are you going to do differently. This forms the basis my training sessions. I then went on to repeat the signal error and as this was rectified I put in another fault of approaching too fast, knowing this will stretch the trainee, it made me smile when I got the classic response of whoa, whoa as they used to manage a riding stables it was not the first time I had heard them treat me like a horse just never got the sugar lump.
Speed on approach required the trainee to pull me over and so there was an improved feedback session and a reminder from me, that they should remember to tell me what I was doing well. We moved on and did several left turns with mixed views on approach, I demonstrated a number of faults, these were positioning turning right, not looking, wrong gear, emerging too far over the line and stopping too short. The whole session revolves around continuous feedback from the trainee to the student driver in role and then from myself to the trainee out of role.
There was clear improvement on behalf of my trainee which helps demonstrate the learning was taking place. I then closed the training session and we discussed the session on the way back with the intention of filling out the feedback and action plans on return to the test centre. When we arrived back I asked if the SE wanted to wait while the forms were filled in but as I had evidenced them from earlier sessions the se said there was no need.
Feedback from SE
I waited the 5 minutes for them to fill out the forms and left my trainee in the car and headed for the waiting room. They came straight out and invited me into the inner sanctuary where I was ushered into their interview room. I awaited the usual question how did you think that went ? and I gave the about shortening my directions to just 2 or even one words which may allow the trainee a little more time. Funny really because I often get them to give me route directions with no prompts from me as it helps usual answer it went Ok. I they then received some pieces of advice that were useful them develop for the real world. I know had those famous last words ringing in my ears why didn’t you do what you normally do, quite simple really I was on a test and nerves and uncertainty play apart. The other piece of advice was around closed open junctions but it was mentioned by the SE that the trainee was getting there and I agreed. Any way they eventually said that I had passed and I was relieved and then a general discussion took place about life, the DVSA and all things client centred.
I came out of the waiting room and text my partners at TrI-Coaching that I had passed and they came back asking what score I got and up until that point I hadn’t even looked and then I smiled as I had received straight 6’s on another ORDIT inspection.