EDUCATIONAL ADVISORS AS SUPPORT FOR IMPROVEMENT QUALITY OF WORK OF PRESCHOOL INSTITUTIONS

The Ministry of Education, within the framework of component 2 of the project Inclusive preschool education and Care (2018 – 2024), provides support to:

– the quality introduction and implementation of the new Foundations of the preschool education program;

– improvement of initial education and professional development of employees in PVO i

– improvement of the quality evaluation system of preschool upbringing and education in order to support the well-being and overall development of children.

Research and practices in the introduction and implementation of the new Fundamentals of preschool education and care programs, as well as previous insights into the process of supporting institutions for the implementation of the new Fundamentals of Programs in Serbia, confirm that the implementation of the new concept is a complex, demanding and long-term process that requires further support for practitioners in preschool institutions and after the end of the Project. Among others, the professional and advisory support that educational advisors can provide is recognized as very important.

In the period February 22-24, 2023, the Second Expert Consultation of educational advisors from school administrations: Novi Sad, Sombor, Zrenjanin and Belgrade (30) was held in Novi Sad on the topic of Quality assurance of the methodology of external evaluation of preschool institutions.

Bearing in mind the fact that from September 1, 2022, all PUs 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 visit by educational counselors to one of the kindergartens of PU “Radosno detinjstvo” in Novi Sad (“Cvrcak i mrav”, “Krcko Orascic”, “Vilenjak” and “Zlatokosa”). 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 by presenting forms for observing activities in the kindergarten (according to standards and quality indicators) and presenting a package of additional instruments and auxiliary materials for activities in the kindergarten, as well as making an activity plan and dividing responsibilities feedback to the head of the kindergarten 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.

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 teachers in the group and gave short feedback to the teachers. After that, they visited the common areas of the kindergarten (external and internal), analyzed the pedagogical documentation (Thematic/project portfolio and Children’s portfolio), conducted interviews with professional associates and managers, teachers and parents, distributed surveys to them and gave feedback on the key findings to the representatives of the kindergarten in two areas of quality.

On the third day of counseling, educational counselors worked on harmonizing assessments at the level of indicator standards 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.

You can see other photos here.