The Instructor and Driver Training Agency was established in 1986 with the purpose of providing high quality training, promoting safe driving for life at all times
The establishment's motto "skill through knowledge" is based on the principle that a good teacher and a good student need to have a good knowledge to acquire the skills needed for modern day driving.
The establishment offers a full range of car driving services.
The aim of the establishment is to promote continuing professional development (CPD) for existing driving instructors and correct high standards teaching, development and assessment of new and part trained driving instructors. The establishment's operational area covers the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and certain parts of Wales. Other clients outside of those areas do travel to the establishment for training including Northern Ireland.
The Instructor and Driver Training Agency is an independent training establishment, it has no business connections with any other driver training organisation and therefore can offer independent advice on training and job placement matters, we do not act as agents for any other driving school. Training is offered for ADI parts 1, 2 and 3 for either new or beginner PDI's or PDI's who have trained at other establishments. There is a full programme of check test preparation courses available to newer driving instructors and a full range of continuing professional development products and courses available to existing driving instructors who have become sub-standard or stale or just need top-ups. Also available at the establishment is classroom training for driving instructors in the Diploma in Driving Instruction where classes are held on a yearly basis with examinations taken in May each year. Preparation is also available for the Cardington special test which is the highest standard driving test in the UK normally carried out at the DSA's driving establishment in Cardington, although there are other venues for this. The trainee trainer scheme is also available for experienced high grade driving instructors who wish to develop their careers in the area of driving instructor training.
Other services, which will soon be available, will be towing category E for new drivers. A towing facility on the rear car park of the premises will allow the tutor to take out new drivers who want to learn towing techniques in preparation for the DSA towing test. Future plans are also to incorporate motorcycle training into the establishment's activities. The establishment has a full teaching programme for people wishing to take advanced driving, either the Institute of Advanced Motorist test, ROSPA test or the DIA Diamond advanced test or develop their fleet training techniques
A free advice line is also available on the office number for anyone in the driving instruction industry or member of the general public who needs technical advice on any subject to do with driver training.
ADI dual-controlled car hire is also available either for ADI examinations tests or for ADI's who may have broken down and need a vehicle at short notice. All hire charges will be given subject to status.
Training is available on a 'pay as you learn' basis or it can be paid for in module blocks. ADI training and retraining is mainly conducted on a one to one basis or in small groups. All 'CPD' training for check tests is conducted confidentially. Progress reports are kept on all pupils.
The tutor of the establishment is also the principal. Chris Mennell is a Grade 6 ADI who has been a Grade 6 ADI on all his graded check tests. He is the DSA tested trainer and is included in the 'ORDIT' (Officially registered driving instructor trainer) listing. Chris is also a Driving Standards Agency trained tutor. He has also regularly attended the external driver training development training programme at the Driving Standards Agency headquarters at Cardington in Bedfordshire and trains with the DSA's supervising examiner trainers to constantly update his skills to DSA trainer standards. He is trained in all aspects of assessment, development and fault simulation of each of the DSA's driving instructor qualification examinations and ADI Check Tests. He also specialises in route, course and lesson planning and writes regular articles on driver training for in-house hand-outs and development.
The establishment itself is based in Kingswinford in the West Midlands on The Pensnett Estate, a large private industrial park complex. Pensnett House is a five-storey modern office building and the establishment is on the second floor, first right from the staircase. There are full facilities at the office for the training that is given there. There is ample free parking at the front and the rear of the premises and there is security at the premises twenty-four hours a day. Access is gained at the main entrance through the foyer, all visitors must report to reception and be 'signed in' for health and safety reasons and fire regulations. The foyer may be used by PDI's to stretch their legs, generally relax and chat, newspapers are available. No smoking is allowed within the building.
Access to the second floor can be gained by lifts or by staircase. There are toilet facilities on all floors. Health and Safety regulations apply to all the building. Fire extinguishers and fire notices are clearly on display. Please note these when entering the premises. The landlords, LCP Ltd, insure the main communal part of the building for public liability. A fire certificate is available C/o Mrs. P James, LCP House, The Pensnett Estate, Kingswinford, West Midlands A full policy for fire escape is on display.
The establishment itself has a classroom / workroom with capacity for five students and a fully equipped 20 seat conference room available for teaching sessions and presentations for larger groups. The smaller classroom doubles as the establishment office. The establishment is fully computerised, it also has other training facilities such as white board, white board easel, overhead projector, video and TV, tape recording facilities, video recording facilities, reel to reel and tape to tape facilities. It has fax and photocopying facilities and a full range of DSA documentation and it complies with all health and safety regulations. The establishment has a no smoking policy. There is a book library, a video library, a cassette library and a CD ROM library. All these materials can be loaned free of charge to PDI's by prior arrangement. There is a full range of written products available to help and encourage good learning.
Light refreshments are available at the establishment with either hot or cold beverages of most descriptions being obtainable and the tables in the classroom section will always be set out with drinks and sweets etc. during training. Sandwiches or full meals or in office catering can be ordered by trainees by prior appointment from Den's Diner a purpose built on site establishment available to all employees and their visitors. Facilities close to the establishment to offer further eating or dining include a Snax 24 petrol station just 100 metres from the establishment which is open twenty-four hours a day for coffee, tea, hot and cold snacks and a full range of grocery products including fuel for your journey. For those who wish to stay overnight because of travelling long distances or training for more than one day, the Kingswood Hotel is directly adjacent to Snax 24. The current tariff is £40.00 per night per person and the hotel has a full restaurant and bar facilities, entertainment is available and luxury rooms for tired and weary trainees.
For those who prefer a more formal eating environment, adjacent to the hotel is a McDonalds Restaurant where again snacks can be obtained in the restaurant or drive through.
The Pensnett Estate also has it's own occupational health unit (mini hospital) with fully qualified nursing staff available to cover any health or accident situations including office first aid regulations.
There are many areas locally including Kingswinford Park for those who wish to relax during their lunch break from training or at the end of a hard training session for a breath of fresh air and to stretch their legs. There are also the grounds of the industrial park.
Progress reports are kept on all clients; these are retained in the strictest confidence. Only the trainee involved, the tutor or a visiting inspector from the Driver Standards Agency will be allowed to see the training logs. the establishment also issues a Term of Business, Codes of Practice, Operational Policy, price lists, Health and Safety document to all new trainees at the start of their training. All training starts with an assessment at any standard.
How to find us
Coming from the north you can carry on to the M6 leading to the M5, leaving at junction 2 Oldbury, then following the A4123 to Dudley, turning left at the Dudley southern by-pass and follow signs for Kingswinford and the Merry Hill Centre. Leaving the A461 bear right on to the A4101 going past Russells Hall Hospital. The establishment is a mile past this hospital on the right.
Coming from the Wolverhampton, Telford and Stafford areas, follow signs for Stourbridge A491 turning left at Kingswinford Cross onto the A4101. The Pensnett Estate is about one mile on the left.
Coming from Worcester, Worstershire, Kidderminster, follow signs for A449, continue following signs for Kingswinford turning right onto A4101, passing the Summerhill School and the Summerhill traffic lights. Continue straight on through Kingswinford Cross and the establishment is about one mile on the left.
Coming from Bromsgrove, South Birmingham, follow road A491 to Stourbridge, continue to follow signs to Kingswinford and Wolverhampton. Turn right at Kingswinford Cross on to the A4101, again the establishment is on the left hand side.
For access from the M5, leave the M5 at either junction 4 or junction 3 and follow A491 to Stourbridge, through Kingswinford or leave at junction 2 following A4123 to Dudley and then taking the A461 through to Kingswinford.
Coming from the M54 and Wales, leave the M54 at junction 4, follow signs for Kidderminster A442, then taking the B4176 the 'rabbit run' which takes you to the Himley traffic lights. Turn right at the A449 on to the A491 and turning left at Kinswinford Cross - directions as before.
The establishment is one mile from Kingswinford, two miles from Dudley, seven miles from Wolverhampton, five miles from Stourbridge, twelve miles from Kidderminster, fifteen miles from Walsall and sixteen miles from Birmingham city centre.
Buses, trains and public transport are all available to bus stops right outside the establishment entrance.
The establishment is listed on page 53, block F5 of the Birmingham A to Z. If clients do have difficulty in finding the establishment, please call and we will talk you through. In severe difficulties a member of staff will come out and you may follow them in.
Price lists for courses, success rates and terms of business are all available at the onset of training or even if you are considering a training course. Clients are encouraged to ask for this information.
It is not the establishments policy to encourage irresponsible training, we are not in the business of selling dreams, with glossy brochures and promises of high earnings with easy qualification, what we do offer is high quality one to one training to ADI grade 5 / 6 standards.
This is a short guide to the establishment.
The next step is to call 01384 291431 for an informal chat.