SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING OF EDUCATIONAL ADVISORS FROM SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIONS ON THE SUBJECT OF ENSURING THE QUALITY OF THE METHODOLOGY OF THE EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF PRESCHOOL INSTITUTIONS

From February to March 2023, 3 expert consultations with educational advisors were held on the topic of quality assurance of the methodology of external evaluation of preschool institutions.

From September 1, 2022, all preschool institutions are obliged to implement the new program concept. The Quality Framework adopted in 2018 was revised (it meets the requirements of the new program concept) and has not been applied until now.

The counseling sessions were held in Novi Sad (educational advisors of schools: Novi Sad, Belgrade, Sombor, and Zrenjanin), Nis (educational advisors of schools: Nis, Kragujevac, Leskovac, Krusevac, Zajecar, and Jagodina), and Cacak (educational advisors: educational advisors of schools: Cacak, Valjevo, Pozarevac, Kraljevo, Uzice, Kosovska Mitrovica I Novi Pazar), and 79 educational advisors from all schools attended.

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 (following the Rulebook on the quality standards of the institution’s work).

They also created an activity plan with the division of responsibilities to provide feedback from the role of a “critical friend” to the kindergarten manager, 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, Guide for arranging the space in the kindergarten, Guide for developing a theme/project with children, Strategy for the joint development of specific children’s programs following individual children’s programs.

On the second day of counseling, full-day visits were made to selected kindergartens in preschool institutions, in which educational counselors divided into 4 groups (7-8 counselors each) 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: Family educational work for children and support for children. On that occasion, the educational counselors joined 2 groups of children of different ages in pairs, where they followed the implementation of the program of educational work, i.e. the work of the educators in the group, and gave them brief feedback.

After that, they visited the common rooms of the kindergarten (external and internal), analyzed pedagogical documentation (Thematic/project portfolio and Children’s portfolio), conducted interviews with professional associates and managers, educators, and parents, and distributed surveys to them. Before leaving, kindergarten representatives were given feedback on the quality of kindergarten work in two areas.

In the course of 3 consultations, educational advisors visited and observed the work of the following kindergartens from the point of view of a “critical friend”: Novi Sad – preschool “Nasa radost”, kindergartens: Krcko Orascic, Vilenjak, Cvrcak i mrav, Zlatokosa, Nis – preschool “Pcelica”: Cvrcak, Plavi cuperak, Brodic, Petar pan and Cacak – preschool “Radost”: Bambi, Radost, Majski cvet, Bosko Buha. 

On the third day of counseling, educational counselors worked on harmonizing grades 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 creating a report on the quality of work for each kindergarten.

After the completed report, upon returning to the school administrations, the heads of the school administrations sent reports to all the visited kindergartens, written from the role of “critical friend” who gives a different perspective on the work of the institution, and who can be useful to practitioners in a more objective assessment of the quality of work in their kindergarten.

All counseling participants expressed their satisfaction after the three-day work, during which they had the support of 4 mentors/managers for the implementation of OP (experienced professional associates). In addition, educational advisors from all school administrations, together with directors of preschool institutions and directors of elementary schools – presidents of municipal assets, participated in the two-day consultation “Organization and management of the institution” which covered topics in the field of quality, management, and organization, and the transition of children from kindergarten to elementary school.

The implementation of the new program concept is a complex, demanding, and long-term process that requires further support from practitioners in preschool institutions. After the completion of the Project, the professional and advisory support that can be provided by educational advisors was recognized as very important support.

You can see other photos here.