1. EECERA Prague 20071 Quality of provision through support of a Quality Specialist Heather Godfrey IPPA hgodfrey@ippa.ie

2. EECERA Prague 20072 Background to the Study IPPA Quality Improvement Programme:IPPA Quality Improvement Programme: Aim: support a play curriculum Aim: support a play curriculum 6 Training Days over 6 months 6 Training Days over 6 months 3 on-site support visits 3 on-site support visits Regulations and Reports (all top down)Regulations and Reports (all top down)

3. EECERA Prague 20073 Dimensions of Quality 1. Aims, values and physical environment 2. Play, equipment and experiences 3. Daily routines 4. Interaction, learning and teaching strategies 5. Observation, planning and assessment 6. Partnership with parents and community

4. EECERA Prague 20074 Rationale Being aware of the challenges facing childcare practitioners, I want to support them in providing a quality service In my role I want to improve my own practice In my role I want to improve my own practice

5. EECERA Prague 20075 The Quality Cycle

6. EECERA Prague 20076 How can I support practitioners to provide a quality service, taking account of their diverse needs & how can I improve my practice during the course of a Q.I.P? Research Question

7. EECERA Prague 20077 Literature Review Models of QualityModels of Quality Reflective PracticeReflective Practice Vygotsky’s (1978) Zone of proximal developmentVygotsky’s (1978) Zone of proximal development Rogoff’s (1990) Guided apprenticeshipRogoff’s (1990) Guided apprenticeship

8. EECERA Prague 20078 1Training 2On-site support 2On-site support 3Documentation and evaluation 3Documentation and evaluation Elements of Quality Support

9. EECERA Prague 20079 Research Design Action Research is a form of enquiry that ‘Action Research is a form of enquiry that enables practitioners to investigate and enables practitioners to investigate and evaluate their work’… to improve their own learning and influence the learning of others’ (McNiff, J. & Whitehead, J. 2006:7) (McNiff, J. & Whitehead, J. 2006:7)

10. EECERA Prague 200710 Sample 6 services- full-daycare and sessional preschool - community & private6 services- full-daycare and sessional preschool - community & private 13Participants on QIP13Participants on QIP On site staff from 3- 20+On site staff from 3- 20+ 6 month period6 month periodMethod Training Days Training Days Focus groups Focus groups Evaluations Evaluations Portfolios Portfolios Data Collection

11. EECERA Prague 200711 Step One Met the services – process of application & preliminary visit. Gathered baseline information e.g. facilities for play experiences Personal reflection on challenges

12. EECERA Prague 200712 Step Two Training Day Format: Discussion, expert input, peer sharing & experientials. Format: Discussion, expert input, peer sharing & experientials. End of training day – Signposts to consider for action End of training day – Signposts to consider for action Personal Reflection & evaluation

13. EECERA Prague 200713 Step Three Participants met with staff and formulated an action plan formulated an action plan

14. EECERA Prague 200714 Step Four On-site support – Quality Specialist met with staff – supported action plan & evaluated progress – feedback Personal Reflection

15. EECERA Prague 200715 Step Five Subsequent training days began with sharing of progress to date and then focussed on another dimension of quality

16. EECERA Prague 200716 Changes to practice Enhanced children’s play - altered layout Children had more choices because accessible equipment & materials were provided Children more engaged - added open-ended materials More relaxed meal times – problem solving & collaboration

17. EECERA Prague 200717 Emerging Findings A greater understanding of ‘Quality’: “ I now realise it only takes a small change to make a difference ….” Improved relationships: “We now use the steps in Conflict Resolution and have explained these to the parents…”

18. EECERA Prague 200718 Emerging Findings Enhancing children’s play: “Since the on-site visit we decided to move the water play area out of the big room…and it has made such a difference to the children’s play” “Since we moved the dress-up area the children are using this more”

19. EECERA Prague 200719 Emerging Findings Altered routines: “We decided to have the dinner time ten minutes later…this has reduced the stress on both children and us” “We changed our routine after break… there is less fuss now”

20. EECERA Prague 200720 Emerging Findings Provided access to equipment and wider experiences : “The new boxes we got means the children can now get at the things themselves” “We gave them bits of string, boxes and glue – it was great to watch as they enjoyed using these open ended materials”

21. EECERA Prague 200721 Emerging Findings Benefited from sharing: “I have found that the group discussion at the beginning of each training day very useful, as the discussion would be based around how we got on with the previous report – it would throw up all sorts of issues/ideas” “I have found that the group discussion at the beginning of each training day very useful, as the discussion would be based around how we got on with the previous report – it would throw up all sorts of issues/ideas”

22. EECERA Prague 200722 Outcomes Better experiences for children Motivated staff Child centred routines Benefited from sharing

23. EECERA Prague 200723 My Reflections Igained a deeper understanding of what quality means and that small changes really do make a huge difference I gained a deeper understanding of what quality means and that small changes really do make a huge difference I was encouraged by the enthusiasm of staff to provide quality childcare for the children in their services by giving up their time to attend the Training Days

24. EECERA Prague 200724 Implications for Practice Value Reflective practice - Emphasise use of Quality Cycle on support visitValue Reflective practice - Emphasise use of Quality Cycle on support visit Time frame – more time between training daysTime frame – more time between training days Awareness of diversity in levels of training and experienceAwareness of diversity in levels of training and experience

25. EECERA Prague 200725 Thank You Heather Godfrey hgodfrey@ippa.ie @ippa.ie