In the period March 8 – 10, 2023, another professional consultation of educational advisors was held in Nis on the topic of Quality assurance of the methodology of external evaluation of preschool institutions, this time for educational advisors from school administrations: Nis, Kragujevac, Leskovac, Krusevac, Zajecar and Jagodina (30 participants).

Bearing in mind the fact that from September 1, 2022, all PI are obliged to implement the new program concept, as well as the fact that the Quality Framework adopted in 2018 has been revised (it meets the requirements of the new program concept) and so far did not apply, the key activity in the counseling was a full-day educational counselors visit to one of the kindergartens of PU “Pcelica” in Nis (kindergartens “Brodic”, “Plavi cuperak”, “Petar Pan” and “Cvrcak”). Divided into 4 groups (of 7 – 8 counselors each), they had the opportunity to apply the revised Quality Framework and as “critical friends” gain insight into the quality of kindergarten work in two quality areas: Educational work and Support for children in the family.

On the first day of counseling, the educational counselors prepared for the visit to the kindergarten through the presentation of forms for observing activities in the kindergarten and a package of additional instruments and auxiliary materials, created within the Project (in accordance with the Rulebook on the quality standards of the institution’s work). They also created an activity plan with the division of responsibilities in order to provide feedback to the kindergarten manager from the role of “critical friend” who will objectively assess the quality of the kindergarten’s work. Part of the preparation included familiarization with the specifics of the kindergarten they will visit, as well as research reading of 4 manuals/guides created to support practitioners in the quality application of the new program concept: A manual for documentation, a Guide for arranging the space in the kindergarten, Guide for developing the topic/project with children, Strategy of joint development of programs in accordance with the specificities of certain ages of children.

On the second day of counseling, during the visit to the kindergarten, the educational counselors went in pairs to 2 groups of children of different ages in which they followed the implementation of the educational work program, i.e. the work of the teacher in the group, and gave them brief feedback. After that, they visited the common areas of the kindergarten (exterior and interior), analyzed pedagogical documentation (Thematic/project portfolio and Children’s portfolio), conducted interviews with professional associates and managers, teachers, and parents, and distributed surveys to them. Before leaving, kindergarten representatives were given feedback on the quality of kindergarten work for two areas.

On the third day of counseling, educational counselors worked on harmonizing assessments at the level of standards and indicators in two areas of work quality, analyzing the results of surveys and interviews, triangulating quality evidence at the area level, and drafting a report on the evaluation of work quality for each kindergarten.

After finalizing the report, upon returning to the school administrations, the heads of the school administrations will send the reports to each of the 4 kindergartens, in the role of a “critical friend” who provides a different perspective on the work of the institution, and which can be useful to practitioners in a more objective assessment of the quality of work.

All counseling participants expressed their satisfaction after the three-day work, during which they had the support of 4 mentors/leaders for the implementation of OP.

Bearing in mind that the implementation of the new program concept is a complex, demanding, and long-term process in which further support is needed for practitioners in preschool institutions even after the end of the Project, professional and advisory support that can be provided by educational advisors is recognized as a very important support.

You can see other photos here.

Within the project of the Ministry of Education, Inclusive preschool education and care, which is supported by a loan from the World Bank, in cooperation with the UNICEF Office in Belgrade, which is engaged as an implementation partner, a program is being developed and implemented to support the strengthening of capacities for the implementation of the new Foundations of Preschool Education Program, which includes combined training, mentoring support and horizontal learning for employees in preschool institutions, as well as professional counseling of educational advisors and inspectors, but also online training for professional associates and teachers from primary schools. The project is planned to include 1,300 professional associates from primary schools, but the rational allocation of funds has enabled the training to be carried out for 3,000 participants so that by the end of the Project, it will include professional associates (pedagogues and psychologists) and heads of professional councils from all public elementary schools in the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

The online training “On the common path of learning” was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Institute for the Improvement of Education and Training, and UNICEF. The training is free of charge and accredited by the decision of the minister as training of public interest, and it takes place on the platform for conducting public interest training – ZUOVEdu. The organizer of the training is the Institute for the Improvement of Education.

The aim of the online training “On a common path of learning” is to empower professional associates and teachers in primary schools to strengthen the partnership between the two levels of the education system (preschool and primary school) through understanding the changes in preschool education (introduction of the new Foundations of PVO program, Years of Ascent), stronger connection and recognition of common values ​​in building support for children and families during the transition from kindergarten to school. The strategy for the development of education in the Republic of Serbia until 2030 implies the further development of the PVO system to meet the needs of children and families as support for the well-being and overall development of children through, among other things, achieving smooth transitions, i.e. ensuring the continuity of experiences of children and families in the educational context and developing relationships with other parts of the education system (schools), the community (institutions of culture, health, social protection), local self-government and the wider social community.

The specific objectives of the training are:

1. Empowering professional associates and teachers in primary schools to support children and families during the transition period from preschool to primary school and developing a partnership relationship with the family.
2. Informing professional associates in primary schools about the concept, starting points, and key concepts of the basis of the PVO ” Years of Ascent” program.
3. Motivating professional associates in primary schools to promote the school as a place of research and learning for children of preschool and school age.

After completing the training, participants receive a certificate for 24 hours of professional development

The authors of the training are Dr. Vesna Colic, professor of vocational studies at the College of Vocational Studies for Teacher Education in Novi Sad, trainer and mentor for the implementation of the “Years of Ascent” PVO Basics program, Dr. Sanja Blagdanic, full professor at the Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Belgrade, and Katarina Djuric, graduate psychologist ‒ professional associate at the Cukarica Preschool in Belgrade, trainer and mentor for the implementation of the Foundations of the PVO “Years of Ascent” program.

The first cycle of the training for 866 participants from the ranks of professional associates from elementary schools and heads of expert councils for classroom teaching was successfully implemented in December 2022 with an average training grade of 3.56. Another training cycle with 1017 participants was successfully completed on March 13th. By the end of May, it is planned for another 1,000 participants to be included in the training.

We expect that the training will further empower practitioners from primary schools to plan high-quality joint activities in cooperation with teams of preschool institutions and enable smooth transitions from one level of education to another for children and families.