Just some simple but valuable tips based on feedback from recent inspections.
A lot of very positive feedback coming from clients about their experience so far.
- Ensure you document your curriculum planning: long , medium and short-term
- Your planning should allow for great flexibility and the accommodation of emerging interests.
- Can you show evidence of where children’s emerging interests (from observation) are built into the curriculum ?
- Your curriculum planning and observations of children should be linked to Aistear : do you make a note of these links? Is this documented?
- Don’t confuse developmental observations with Aistear Assessment/Evaluation
- Transitions should be planned & managed effectively by practitioners so that children are not waiting for long periods between one activity and another ( for example sitting waiting for snack or to go home)
- These inspections are evidence –based so ensure you are gathering evidence of your curriculum, the activities you carry out, children at play, children learning, engagement with parents, leadership of your staff team. You may be doing it but where is it documented? (Notes, observation records, photographs, learning stories, minutes staff of meetings, newsletters to parents, scrap books,) . Can you show how you resource/research your curriculum? Have you built up a library of resources?
- Ensure activities such as circle time or storytelling are not too long where children would find it difficult to concentrate. Ensure that children do not “have to” participate. If a child drifts off to what they are interested in let them and encourage their interest
- Make sure activities are age appropriate! Also make sure that children's individual identity and diversity is recognised within the curriculum, in adult interactions and the environment (materials, equipment and imagery)
- Check out your environments. Do you have distinct learning areas with plenty of natural materials and “real” items? ( for example real items from home within the home corner or dress-up area)
- Ensure that you are “in-tune” with children and responsive to their needs. Extend conversations and don’t miss out on learning opportunities!
- Interactions should be warm, respectful and at child level
- Ensure routines like hand-washing and meal-time are also learning opportunities
- For Managers, do you show leadership and how?
- How do you inform, involve and engage with parents and families?
