How do you monitor staffs performance and skills?

[skippy]

Hi

I just wondered if you do any monitoring or mock inspections with your staff? We want to ensure consistency with staff but I think if I go in to watch sessions I need to have something to work with (What am I looking for etc.)

Thanks

[Helen]

I agree it's a good idea to have in mind what you are looking for when you observe staff- but also so that they are aware what you are looking for, eg 'This month I'd like to focus on developing the children's independence skills, or how staff ask open ended questions to extend children's thinking, or how we make sure those very quiet children are fully included and access all areas of the setting,' etc.

[skippy]

Thank you Helen. How do you record your findings ?

[Helen]

I'm not in a setting currently, but I'd suggest just having an observation sheet with the title being the thing you're concentrating on, and then the member of staff's name/room name, date, etc, and just write anything you see that is relevant to the title. Later on, when you have time to reflect on your observation, you'll be able to maybe have three or four bullet points to illustrate and celebrate the good practice you've seen, and perhaps on or two suggestions for improvements.