PowerPoint Guidance Layout for title or holding page By Creative Services Text should be ranged left, used in white only and main headings be set in 30 point Arial. Smaller references or subheadings should be set in point, No text should be placed in white background areas and no other organisation logos should be added. Creative Services can assist with requests for partnership presentations, us at Comenius-Regio Project December 2009 Quality Framework School Improvement Visits

Key Change School Improvement Visit –Move away from validation system of review of data based on previous year »to – current position within the school key sources of evidence now come from observation, data and from views of those closely involved

Triangulation Pupils, staff Parents & wider community Class lessons Achievement, attainment Attendance, exclusions etc.

Reasons for visit Main –To strengthen the self-evaluation process and its impact on school/nursery performance Subsidiary –To ensure real improvement in the experiences, achievements and attainment of learners –To identify and share good practice on an authority basis –Highlighting areas where development needs exist –To ensure that authority policies are pursued

6 Types of Visit Supporting Journey to Excellence (Identifying good practices) Focus visit - curricular area/ other issues identified by HT or authority –Individual departments or faculties within a school (Secondary & Sec Special) –Specific curricular areas within Primary/Primary special and nursery eg expressive arts / environmental studies etc New school Newly appointed Headteacher HGIOS 3 Visit– Likely inspection Underperforming schools / Special measures support

Position So Far 27 establishments visited so far since Oct ‘08 All 6 categories of visits have been used involving:- 7 Secondaries 17 Primaries 1 Special school 2 Nursery centre

Format (will follow a proportionate model ) How schools are identified? –Dependant on the type of situation/visit –Underperforming identified by SMT Duration – 1 day for ‘Journey to Excellence Visit’ –2-3days for other types of visit Team –3 core members in a team with additional specialist support Visit Process Follow similar format but with some differences of approach to match the individual type of visit

Example Template Visit Template for Process Notice to school/centre:- 10 working days Duration:- 3 days Team:- CoreTeam of 3 and 4 in case of Secondary School = Link QIO, SMT and/or QIM, appropriate headteacher/head of centre + specialist QIO involvement covering identified core subjects or areas, providing oral feedback to team. In the case of secondary school visits this would be an extra 3 QIOs.

Visit Template for Process Pre-visit –Initial contact with headteacher/head of centre involving the planning of the review visit –Meeting of SIV team –Notification of areas to be covered –Access to school/centre profile –Statistical information eg Attendance/exclusions, staff attendance, parental enquiries, attainment statistics and/or assessment statistics –Secondary :- Timetables of relevant departmental areas to be covered (3 areas of which at least one must be English and/or mathematics along with Pupil Support (ASN,CSPs, ASPs) plus department(s) agreed in consultation with headteacher –Primary:- Updated copy of class/base timetable – whole school timetables including additional support needs(literacy and numeracy would be covered) plus curricular/cross curricular area agreed in consultation with headteacher –Pre-School:- Quality of children’s experience, how well are children supported as well as leading and improving the centre

Visit Template for Process During Visit 1. Headteacher/Head of Centre:- Presentation – around 30 minutes Further discussion with headteacher/head of centre– 15 minutes Tour of accommodation Areas to be talked through or /and supported by written evidence :- Attainment and achievement Monitoring/self-evaluation (use of HGIOS Transition/progression arrangements across sector & stages AifL impact ICT use Curriculum Framework and preparedness for CfE 2.Written Evidence: School/Centre Improvement Plan School/Centre Improvement Report Handbook Appropriate school policies Collegiate arrangements

Visit Template for Process 3. Classroom/playroom observation of the quality of learning and teaching Range of classes – selected by QIOs after discussion with HT Length of visit will be determined by sector and by the agreed focus of the observation Meetings with stakeholders Group of staff and Staff Representative Group (dependent on size of school) Group of pupils – cross section Group of parents - optional ( identified by Headteacher/Head of Centre) 5. Oral feedback – delivered by Lead Officer HT (and SMT ) Wherever possible team should engage in dialogue with staff throughout the three days of the visit

Visit Template for Process Post Visit Step 1 Written report of strengths and development needs with recommendations compiled by link QIO Step 2 Endorsed by EO Step 3Report signed by lead officer and sent to school no later than 10 working days after visit.Step 4Agreed support strategies between school/centre and authority

Timing of reviews 3 windows in the year –The idea of having just one opening in the school session for the new reviews should now change to 3 windows in the year Oct/Nov: Feb/March: May/June – Primary and early years establishments

Position So Far Initial feedback – positive Evaluation Form is distributed Useful comments already made