Embodying professional development, workplace mentoring and parental engagement in the form of an Interim Preschool Practice Manager

Start Right’s model area

3 communities on Limerick’s Southside9 early years settings5 primary schools & 1 after-school project724 (887) children (0-6 years)2322 family units (97 inter-generational)393 children in EY settings89 EY staff

Objectives:(1) Enhance the capacity of parents, families, and services to work

collaboratively in the best interests of children(2) Develop integrated work practices and resource-sharing in the early

years across statutory, community and voluntary agencies

What? Improve child outcomes through the provision of high quality ECCE

Why? Existing practice was not child-centredWhere? A school-feeder preschoolHow? Through the creation of an on-site EY

position where quality is the central focusWhat? (i) Enhancement of provision and

practice(ii) Up-skilling and mentoring of

practitionersWhen? Over a full preschool year: August

2012 – June 2013Who? An experienced Early Years manager,

with a ‘warm and caring personality – friendly and approachable to families’

The Before PictureStructural•Principal - legal manager•Two EY staff (mid Level 5)•Parents – expectations around paperwork & timekeeping•Ad-hoc management committee & policies and procedures

Operational• Practice – adult-directed, activities inconsistent with childrens’ interests, little opportunity for children to engage in play, lack of awareness of Síolta & Aistear , little awareness of speech and language development• Interactions – raised voices, reactive language, lack of capacity to interact with the children in a way that reflects the child’s needs for warm, responsive relationships•‘The amazing case of the magically appearing small people’

Meet the Interim Preschool Practice Manager...

Recruitment process:An enlightenment in the context of (mis)perceptions of ECCE & highlighted the lack of sectoral confidence

Successful candidate:• Montessori trained• Background in play consultancy• Preschool management experience• Very focused on environments / outdoor play• A man

The After Picture: ‘If children play, they’ll thrive’+• Síolta & Aistear – following the child’s lead• Outdoor play environment• Meeting children’s needs• Speech and language development• Parental engagement • Understanding of child outcomes

-• Practitioner capacity• Stakeholder disengagement

1. Partnership requires time, role clarity, open channels of communication & a dual approach to needs identification

2. On-site guidance and mentoring by a qualified and experienced professional is core in enhancing quality practice and facilitating the professional development of EY practitioners

3. Changes in practice and implementation of Aistear & Síolta require a unified and reflective approach between managers and practitioners

4. Mentoring approaches & strategies need to be specific to the needs of individual practitioners and rooted in trust and meaningful consultation

5. Early intervention (i.e. SLT) in the form of assessments and service allocation needs to begin in the actual EARLY YEARS

6. ‘Parents as partners’ is the pivotal component of effective & sustainable early intervention and prevention work

Key Learning