St Monica Primary School EYFS Supervision Policy Policy Statement and Guidelines Policy Date: Spring 2016
Date of Issue: February 2016 EYFS SUPERVISION POLICY Approved by Governing Body: February 2016 Review Date: February 2018 Introduction The Statutory Framework for the Early Years and Foundation Stage (Effective Sept 2014) section 3.21 states that Providers must put appropriate arrangements in place for the supervision of staff who had contact with children and families. Effective supervision provides support, coaching and training for the practitioner and promotes the interest of children. Supervision should foster a culture of mutual support, teamwork and continuous improvement, which encourages the confidential discussion of sensitive issues. Supervision is a formal and recorded process through which the professional actions of staff are examined and regularly reviewed. It provides a recorded system of decision making that is audited to improve practice and to improve the service that is provided to children and parents. Supervision acts as a means for ensuring that members of staff have access to the support, training and procedures they require for professional growth and development. Supervision enables supervisors and supervisees to examine and reflect on the quality of their practice and to facilitate discussion. Supervision meetings should provide opportunities for staff to:- Discuss any issues, particular\rly concerning children s development and well-being. Identify solutions to address issues as they arise. Receive coaching to improve their personal effectiveness. Section 3.22 page 20 At St Monica Primary School all practitioners who work directly with children and families are supervised by the headteacher, deputy head or inclusion leader. The lunchtime team are supervised by the Senior mid-day supervisory assistant. Supervision meetings are held every term for each staff member, or sooner as required. Supervision meetings are conducted in line with existing procedures and are held in a confidential space suitable for the task. Supervision agreements are drawn up for all staff. A copy of the supervision record form is retained by the supervisor and a copy provided to the supervisee. Each member of the Early Years Foundation Stage staff has a supervision file which holds a copy of the supervision agreement and their supervision record form. The supervision file is stored securely at all times. Supervision meetings will also be held with the lunchtime staff who work with children under the age of 5, as well as the Year R team. All supervision meetings must include discussions concerning the development and well-being of each of the supervisee s key children they work with. Where concerns are raised, the supervisor and the supervisee must seek to identify solutions and identify further actions that need to be taken. These are recorded on the child s file and may include support from external agencies. All aspects of supervision must ultimately focus on promoting the interests of children. During supervision meetings, staff are able to discuss any concerns they may have about inappropriate behaviour displayed by colleagues.
During supervision meetings, staff are reminded of the need to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings relating to themselves or anyone in their household which may affect their suitability to work with children that have occurred during their employment with the setting. Any new information is referred immediately to the headteacher (CPLO). Supervision for staff working with vulnerable children At St Monica Primary School, there are several staff trained to act as CPLO. It is also important that staff dealing with vulnerable children of any age have access to supervision. All the termly meetings below will be recorded and any actions detailed. The focus of the meeting will be to reflect on how well processes in school kept a child safe. It will also include discussion on how any incidents affected the staff member and record any future actions. The HT, DHT and SENCO will meet a minimum of each half term to review all current CP cases and referrals. The SENCO will meet with each ELSA once a term. At any time any staff member can request a supervision meeting with their line manger to discuss a particular incident involving a vulnerable pupil. The school can signpost or refer to external wellbeing support for a staff member, where this is felt appropriate and agreed. Model form for recording supervision meetings It is important that all supervision discussions are properly and promptly recorded in order to:- Maximise impact. Support completion of agreed actions within agreed timescales. Avoid any confusion or disputes. It is advisable that both parties sign the supervision record with the opportunity to record any points of disagreement. The best method of recording will depend on the working environment, the resources available and the personal preference of the supervisor e.g. many supervisors prefer to take brief notes during the meeting and to write up more comprehensive notes later. Others, particularly those with several supervisees, may struggle to complete their records promptly and prefer to do handwritten notes during the meeting. Although this may disrupt the flow of the meeting, pauses to record decisions or actions agreed can be useful and this method provides the opportunity for:- The exact wording to be agreed. Both to sign the notes at the end of the meeting. A copy of the record to be given to the supervisee immediately. Which method is chosen, it is important that key decisions and actions agreed are recorded with clear timescales and responsibilities. This will reduce any confusion and the chances of actions not being followed through or delayed. This will be as important to the supervisee as to the supervisor and reinforces the two-way nature of the process.
St Monica Primary School Supervision Meeting Record EYFS Supervisee name: Supervisor name: Date: Number of pupils: Progress on actions from previous meeting: Positive developments of pupils: Actions/Solutions: Who and when: Current concerns: (about key pupils development and well-being) Actions/Solutions: Who and when: Personal effectiveness: (resources, workload, targets, specific duties, time management, work/life balance and well-being, observation, assessment and planning, evaluation, safeguarding, work with outside agencies, working with parents)
Actions/Solutions: Who and when: Any other areas for discussion: Supervisee s signature: Supervisor s signature: Date of next meeting: GUIDANCE NOTES FOR SUPERVISEES Supervision is an important right and benefit for all those working with children under the age of 5 and for older vulnerable children. It is the main way in which an organisation monitors and reviews staff s work but also ensures staff are properly supported and their skills are further developed. It is therefore important that staff are fully involved to ensure they make the most of the opportunities that supervision offers. Staff should:- Prepare for your supervision meeting by reviewing notes from the previous meeting and thinking about things they want to raise and discuss. Be ready to share any thoughts and ideas in the meeting. Be open about what has gone well and what has been difficult. Be ready to plan and undertake training and other development activities as agreed with the supervisor. Check and read any notes and ensure staff follow through and complete any actions as agreed. Preparation Do staff know the date and time of the supervision meeting in advance? Have staff made provision to attend the meeting? Confirmation of arranged meeting. Ensure child development notes are up-to-date. Bring any other information e.g. training or meeting notes to the meeting. Bring copies of previous supervision notes. During the supervision meeting To be open about any areas of difficulties. To ensure the supervisor records the discussion in the agreed format. Ending the discussion Ensure the supervision notes indicate the actions that have been agreed. Have any training or development needs been identified? Are agreed timescales clear? Ensure the date for the next supervision meeting has been agreed. Ensure the supervision notes are signed. Ensure copies of the notes are given to correct parties. GUIDANCE NOTES FOR SUPERVISORS The role of supervisor is a significant responsibility and one which needs to be taken seriously. The setting and the individuals supervised expect the supervisor to provide supervision that is:-
o Based on a written agreement or contract. o Planned well in advance and only changed in exceptional circumstances. o Well-structured and allowing both parties to contribute to the agenda. o Provided in an appropriate location and free of interruptions. o Inclusive of all the functions outlined in the section in guidance on Functions of Supervision. o Properly and promptly recorded with notes copied to the individual. o Based on Early Years Foundation Stage (Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, Department for Education 2014) and considers the supervisor s contribution to the setting s learning environment, considers each child s individual needs and enable the supervisee to evidence their own professional skill and expertise. Preparation o Has appropriate arrangements for the meeting e.g. quiet location, adequate time and no interruptions been made? o Has the meeting schedules been planned in advance? o Has the correct format for recording the meeting been made? o Have all supervisees contributed to the content of their supervision agreements? o Is there a copy of the notes from the last meeting? Conducting the supervision meeting o Is the supervision meeting structured to be child focused? o Will the supervision meeting provide opportunities to discuss pastoral issues such as workload and work concerns? o Is the agreed recording format being used? Ending the discussion o Do all supervision notes indicate the actions that have been agreed? o Have any training or development needs been identified? o Are clear timescales agreed? o Has the date of the next supervision meeting been agreed? o Are the notes signed? o Does the supervisee have a copy of the notes? o Supervisors should keep a copy of all notes of supervision meetings in secure and confidential staff folders.
MODEL SUPERVISION AGREEMENT At St Monica Primary School it has been agreed that supervision will be given and received in accordance with the Supervision Policy which includes further details of the supervision process. This supervision agreement is between the following two people:- Name of supervisor: Name of supervisee: This agreement outlines what is expected from the supervision process and responsibilities. Supervisions will be arranged at least termly and will only be cancelled or postponed in an emergency. Supervisions will begin promptly and end once all issues have been discussed. Conversations will be treated with respect for each other s views and personal views and opinions should be expressed without prejudice. Supervisions will be held in a quiet area where conversation cannot be overheard. The contents of supervisions will be confidential. Some issues may need to be referred to the supervisor s line manager or other agency if necessary e.g. social care etc. A written record of each supervision meeting will be kept which will be signed by both supervisor and supervisee and each will be given a copy. Any actions agreed at supervision will be completed within the agreed timescale. At the next supervision, notes of the previous supervision will be reviewed to ensure that all actions have been carried out. Supervisee s signature Date Supervisor s signature Date