'EY Blink' is an early years visit and review aiming to enable all practitioners in a setting to become better than they already are. Run by the National Education Trust, it involves an experienced early years specialist visiting a setting for a day, to discuss areas of practice and provide a written review for the setting to reflect and act on.
While the process shares some similarities with an Ofsted inspection, national programme manager Angela Jackson emphasises that is very much 'a private dialogue'. Many settings that commission Blink have already received an Ofsted 'outstanding' but are looking for new ideas or a fresh approach.
'Prior to the day's visit we find out what the setting and staff's particular focus might be,' says Ms Jackson. 'It might be something they can't quite put their finger on or it might be that they want to develop their teaching and learning or improve the SEF.
'It is important for us to get background before we talk to the team. Sometimes we can assist a manager in getting ideas across to the whole staff and sometimes we talk to them in small groups. Normally, all the staff are on board with a desire to improve and they are very open with us.'
Ms Jackson emphasises that it is important for the whole team to recognise the setting's strengths. 'Our report is broken down into leadership and management, curriculum, the child and partnerships, and we make points in each of these categories. We also talk about the SEF and draw some conclusions. The recommendations we make could be something like, better use of questioning skills in the two to three year-olds' room.'
Being specific is what gives Blink its value. 'It looks at how every practitioner is contributing and identifies future training needs. We don't endorse other trainers, but we do suggest options.'
Reviews are commissioned directly by providers who have links with the work of the National Education Trust. 'We have a large network of contacts and we stay in touch after the review so that expertise can be passed around,' says Ms Jackson.
Further information
emma@nationaleducationtrust.net www.nationaleducationtrust.net
