staff reading policies

[chez29]

I have updated nearly all of our policies as they were very outdated but now I need all the staff to read them. I have left a folder on the staff room table for staff to read but over the last two weeks very few have been read. I know its hard for staff to get time to read them in the day.

How do others manage this? I was thinking of doing something like policy of the fortnight and then do a little quiz at the team meeting to see if they had read and understood.

 

 

[Mouseketeer]

I give mine copies of the policies relevant to them, that way they have their own set, I give them a week to read them then ask them to sign a record that says they have.

[Carol]

We went through ours at a staff meeting/inset day, I put them on the interactive white board and asked staff questions etc relating to the polices

[Running Bunny]

We have regular review meetings where we go through each 'section' (we have the PLA copies that we have adapted to our own setting. Senior members of staff are present at the review meeting so are up to date with each set. So, over the course of a year, each policy is reviewed, unless there are legislative changes which are amended accordingly.

After each review meeting, we are now going to do a 'policy of the week' and stick it in our entrance vestibule for parents to read, if they wish (!) and staff are going to have to sign to say they have read each policy before it is displayed so that if any parents have any questions about the policy, they can all answer it. Ultimately, this will apply to any Ofsted questioning.

This is the only way that we can ensure they are read regularly! A lot of our staff have been with us for 5 years plus, so haven't re-read them all probably since their induction!!!

[blondie]

all our staff have a copy on a cd to read - they are then asked to sign to say they have (although can never be sure they have).

its very hard as staff don't get the time in work to read themand probably dont want to do this at home but dont know when else it can be done.

do ensure safeguarding and whistle blowing are fully understood though.

any ideas on how to ensure all policies are read and understood would be great

[Foreveryoung]

We have staff handbooks one of policies general and one of safeguarding, they all then can opt for all policies on CD or via e-mail they have to sign they have read them. We also have 1/2 termly staff mtgs at which they have to complete a questionnaire on a policy they are notified the week before of the policy, if they score less than 75% they have to re sit the questionnaire, at the end of the questions it asks what they feel are the main points of the policy in their own opinion as I am compiling a list of main points of each policy so it can inform volunteers etc of main things they need to know about each policy. Also it asks if they think anything in the policy is not correct or relevant therefore making them a working document that reflects our setting.

 

I'm in process of doing a safeguarding one but staff will be given a months notice before this questions or due to the volume of the policy and it would need to be completed in either two parts or on a training day not just a little staff mtg.

 

I understand the not wanting to read at home and don't like staff doing much at home but at end of the day these are the backbone of the setting and are part of the basics in doing the job like it or not so I have them no choice on this all part and parcel if their job descriptions etc. (Look at me being mean lol)

Edited December 16, 2014 by Foreveryoung

[Susan]

Can you not involve staff in writing and updating the policies as appropriate, at a staff meeting for example?

[Mouseketeer]

That would be great in an ideal world, trying to get anytime for staff meetings is hard in itself these days, but then really the committee should be responsible for policies....and that's just a ridiculous concept to

[Soton_EYC]

We recently had a policies evening with a quiz. The staff had all been emailed copies of the policies to read and were given a date to have read them by.

 

At the policy evening we had a quiz which covered bits of all of the policies with more questions being asked about some of the "more important" policies e.g. safeguarding.

[zigzag]

We have a policy of the week that we Email to all staff and committee members. This ensures everyone is familiar with them and any updates can be made. Works really well for us.

[chez29]

I like the policy evening idea and also the idea to email staff policies. I might to staff and see if they willing to do this.

[thumperrabbit]

We review 1 policy a week (in an ideal world!) as part of our staff meeting

I then update if required and send it as an email to all Staff & Committee

[Mouseketeer]

I like the idea about quiz evenings soton_EYC ( and welcome)I do email them to staff and committee for any comments/suggestions before they sign them off.

[thumperrabbit]

I like the idea about quiz evenings soton_EYC ( and welcome)I do email them to staff and committee for any comments/suggestions before they sign them off.

and how often do the staff comment or question anything?? Cause my lot never do - actually my deputy does most of the time.

I've tried doing it the other way round emailing the policy to be updated at the next meeting and asking staff to read beforehand which they NEVER do or they say they do and all is fine ..... and so then I'll question something do we really do that?? and then they'll respond oh no not done that for awhile .... well why did you all say everything was ok then?!!!

ooooo, can you tell I'm so ready for my hols

[Foreveryoung]

I had to lay down the law so to speak with mine at the start of implementing the policy questionnaire, persistent failure in questionnaire can result in disciplinary as these are the basics of the job and they need to know them to act within them at all times. I put together a process which was agreed by staff so they know the possibly consequences to not knowing a policy. Then again they are all pulling their socks up as I announced in July the next academic year is a major focus on professional development.

They would be first to complain if they breached a policy ended up in trouble for it all because they didn't know it as they wasn't bothered in reading it. Think I got annoyed in updating/introducing policies all for no one to read them they do now lol x