MrsL Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Hi, has anyone had an ECERs done in Reception? Is it just to do with learning environment or do they observe you teaching? Is it more like people walking round with clipboards? Any experiences would be helpful! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I understand its an audit of provision. Surely teaching is Ofsted's remit? Ours is after half term! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsL Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 I thought it was just environment, but we haven't been told anything about it really and I am now panicking that it might be 'more' than what we thought it would be! I hope you are right Susan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondie Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 we had one in pre-school and although most of it about the environment some was also about they way staff interacted/spoke /worked with the children - dont know if thats the same for reception Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Hi, Sorry to sound silly but what is an Ecer? Nicky Sussex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 here's a link which will tell you more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 If you can't be bothered to go to the link, here's what they'll be looking at 49 Items organized into 7 Subscales Space and Furnishings 1. Indoor space 2. Space for gross motor activities 3. Space for privacy 4. Room arrangement 5. Furnishings for routine care 6. Furnishings for learning and recreational activities 7. Furnishings for relaxation and comfort 8. Furnishings for gross motor activities 9. Access to host facilities 10. Space to meet personal needs of staff 11. Space to meet professional needs of staff Health and Safety 12. Health policy 13. Health practices 14. Emergency and safety policy 15. Safety practice 16. Attendance 17. Departure 18. Meals/snacks 19. Personal hygiene Activities 20. Arts and crafts 21. Music and movement 22. Blocks and construction 23. Drama/theater 24. Language/reading activities 25. Math/reasoning activities 26. Science/nature activities 27. Cultural awareness Interactions 28. Greeting/departing 29. Staff-child interactions 30. Staff-child communication 31. Staff supervision of children 32. Discipline 33. Peer interactions 34. Interactions between staff and parents 35. Staff Interaction 36. Relationship between program staff and classroom teachers Program Structure 37. Schedule 38. Free choice 39. Relationship between program staff and program host 40. Use of community resources Staff Development 41. Opportunities for professional growth 42. Staff meetings 43. Supervision and evaluation of staff Special Needs Supplementary Items 44. Provisions for exceptional children 45. Individualization 46. Multiple opportunities for learning and practicing skills 47. Engagement 48. Peer interactions 49. Promoting communication Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyMaz Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Hi, has anyone had an ECERs done in Reception? Is it ECERS-R or ECERS-E? ECERS-R is about environment and ECERS-E is about the curriculum. It isn't an inspection such as Ofsted would do into teaching, but it does take account of interactions between practitioners and children. Auditors probably won't have a clipboard as such, but they work from a scale booklet looking at every aspect of the provision. This will entail digging around in cupboards, drawers etc to see what resources are available for children to access as well as looking at routines such as snack, rest, health and hygiene. If you're having an audit of your provision you should have received a copy of the Scale book with the explanations of what the auditor will be looking for so that there should be no surprises on the day of your audit. If you haven't got a copy then I would ask for one as part of your audit, or get your school to order a copy! Maz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Thanks for the link and the very comprehensive list. Are they organised by LEA's or by some other group? Have not had any info or heard about them until I read it here. Nicky Sussex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyMaz Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) If you can't be bothered to go to the link, here's what they'll be looking at49 Items organized into 7 Subscales I'm off to have a look at your link Cait because I don't recognise some of the subscales you listed. Ok I see - you've quoted the SACERS scales. SACERS is for children aged 5 to 12, and is obviously different to ECERS which is for children aged to five. I don't have experience with SACERS (yet) but once an auditor is trained to work with ECERS they don't receive extra training necessarily to work with ITERS (up to two and a half) or FCCERS (childminding) - so the scales are broadly similar in organisation and scope. Maz Edited May 13, 2009 by HappyMaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Your LEA will have organised either that or EQISP. This one is much better unfortunately my county have chosen EQISP which is a right pain! I have both books and my team really enjoyed looking through the ECERS-E and it led to some brilliant discusion and changes to practice. The EQISP definitely hasn't at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spiral Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 We had ours recently and it went really well. Primarily it is a tool that you can use to help you look at your environment. We used the yellow book that Cait's link showed and it is quite self explanatory. Managing space and having freedom to move...ensuring there is a wide range of books fictional and non-fictional? it's not something to worry about, but it can help you to examine how well you do and to think upon how to make it even better. The 'auditors' may look at how your staff are managing to create the experience for the children, but in my experience it's done so positively and nicely that you won't notice anyone there - and that's exactly how it should be. Please don't worry :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 It is a really good tool to reflect on your environment and practice and to see how you can develop as well. It was used in the EPPE and REPEY research which is why it is so useful and why it is in the QISP handbook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyMaz Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 It was used in the EPPE and REPEY research which is why it is so useful and why it is in the QISP handbook. ...and why the EYFS materials recommend it as a quality improvement tool! Maz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsL Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 Thanks for that everyone, very helpful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Ok I see - you've quoted the SACERS scales. SACERS is for children aged 5 to 12, and is obviously different to ECERS which is for children aged to five. Maz Surely if it's for reception, this would be the one they'd use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Though not in a reception class - we are a pre-school and had our ecers - it was partly based on staff interaction and questionning as well - as our provision - Dot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Though not in a reception class - we are a pre-school and had our ecers - it was partly based on staff interaction and questionning as well - as our provision - Dot But the original question was from someone in reception, which I why I responded with the reception one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyMaz Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 But the original question was from someone in reception, which I why I responded with the reception one Yes, but MrsL specifically mentioned ECERS which is what threw me. I guess it depends on the age of the children who are in a reception class - they could fall into the realms of both the ECERS or the SACERS remit. It may be that MrsL's LA has decided that for the settings they are to audit, the ECERS is more appropriate. Either way it will enable MrsL to draw up a really detailed action plan of how to develop practice by building on what they are doing well and targeting areas where more support might be needed. A win/win situation, whichever scale is used. Can you see my ECERS anorak from there? Maz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsL Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 Thanks everyone, it was an ECERs and all went well! We are very pleased! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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