Greenfinch Posted February 16, 2013 Posted February 16, 2013 (edited) Hello all I know there is no right or wrong as such but my SEF seems to be long and detailed and just wondered if anyone else's is? Is it supposed to be short and concise? In truth, I didn't have one before (sssh!) so have just almost finished it. I'm not really waffling on or repeating etc, it just seems to be quite wordy.Is anyone else's like this? I don't want to put Ofsted off/irritate the inspector ( well I know they'd have to read it and are of course professionals etc but...)! Edited February 16, 2013 by Greenfinch
garrison Posted February 16, 2013 Posted February 16, 2013 Ours is and i feel it only contains relevant info
catma Posted February 16, 2013 Posted February 16, 2013 Bullet points and a focus on impact/areas for development are the key things I advise for any SEF. It's not about what you do, it's about the difference you have made and what you have identified as what you need to do next. Cx 1
meridian Posted February 16, 2013 Posted February 16, 2013 I am in the middle of updating our SEF too and having gone on the Ofsted site...everything previously written has been cut/pasted into the new inspection format, mine seems 'waffly' too and thinking of doing it in sub headings with 'what we do, why and the impact'.
Gezabel Posted February 16, 2013 Posted February 16, 2013 Ours is pages and pages but not waffly. At the last inspection the inspector said it was very comprehensive and helpful her only criticism was that we had been to hard on ourselves when selecting the good/outstianding boxes
catma Posted February 16, 2013 Posted February 16, 2013 I think the key thing is that if the inspector has to read it on the day of inspection they just do not have time to be reading lots of details - they want to be able to get straight to the key points. 1
Guest Posted February 16, 2013 Posted February 16, 2013 Catma can i ask if you focus on something in particular? (in terms of impact)
Greenfinch Posted February 16, 2013 Author Posted February 16, 2013 They read it before the inspection, that's why you submit it online.
catma Posted February 17, 2013 Posted February 17, 2013 Catma can i ask if you focus on something in particular? (in terms of impact) I think a sef needs what you have been doing in any development plans or as a result of previous self evaluation. Personally I think that the self evaluation gets lost In a long litany of what is done. I ask "so what"... You could be doing all sorts of things but evaluation is about identifying the difference you have made to behaviours, attitudes or understanding and therefore identifying what you need to do better, differently or indeed stop doing! 1
Mouseketeer Posted February 17, 2013 Posted February 17, 2013 Ours wasn't read before inspection as it wasn't given to inspector prior to arriving and it was submitted 4 months previously
Greenfinch Posted February 17, 2013 Author Posted February 17, 2013 Thank you everyone Some really helpful advice, I'm definitely going apply so what , to mine!
meridian Posted February 17, 2013 Posted February 17, 2013 I think a sef needs what you have been doing in any development plans or as a result of previous self evaluation. Personally I think that the self evaluation gets lost In a long litany of what is done. I ask "so what"... You could be doing all sorts of things but evaluation is about identifying the difference you have made to behaviours, attitudes or understanding and therefore identifying what you need to do better, differently or indeed stop doing! thanks Catma...will get rid of some of the 'waffly' bits and make information more clear, with impact statements building on self-evaluation...think that's my job for next week
catma Posted February 17, 2013 Posted February 17, 2013 (edited) They read it before the inspection, that's why you submit it online. Not everyone does, they encourage online submission but not everyone will be able to. The guidance for inspectors says that they should review it before the inspection "where available". If it's not available they would need to follow up duirng the inspection and also check that any previously available version was the most upto date. The guidance for SEFs is quite helpful too and has recently been reissued. http://www.ofsted.go...ly-years-founda Cx Edited February 17, 2013 by catma 1
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