I think that valuing the staff and their experience is key to improving the provision and outcomes for the children. The people who work with them are the most valuable resource that the children have, both in terms of experience and financial cost.
My first thought was to ask everyone who works with the three- and four-year-olds to complete a short questionnaire to gauge what they saw as the strengths of the setting, to reflect on their own passions and on the current provision. It asked them to identify if they felt anything wasn't working in regards to routines, continuous provision, teaching and assessment - or anything that bugs them!
The questionnaires were given out with an accompanying box of biscuits, and at least ten days for staff to complete the questionnaire and reflect on their practice. Individual staff needs would hopefully be identified in order to build on professional development priorities and plan future in-house training events.
To improve experiences and outcomes for children, I feel it is essential that staff have a shared ethos and vision for the provision. I hope the questionnaires are a good starting point to establishing a shared way of working, as well as opening a dialogue on where we want the nursery to be in the future. The answers will be the backbone of developing our ethos and the achievement of the children.
Questionnaire
- - How many years have you worked with children? (I will then add up all the years and see how many years experience we all have as a team in FS1).
- - What is your favourite book to share with young children?
- - What do you like best about your job?
- - What do you think are the top five strengths of the nursery?
- - What changes (if any) would you like to see, and why? What bugs you the most?
- - What are your key strengths and passions?
- - Do you have any professional development needs?
