Staff Development Policy

 

Rationale

Ongoing professional development and life long learning is the right to all members of staff. Whole nursery, group and individual needs are addressed in order to both improve individual’s abilities and experiences and to facilitate improvements in standards throughout the nursery. Needs are identified through performance management, staff request and nursery improvement priorities.

                        

This policy aims to guide the formulation of each year’s staff development and enable all staff to have access to professional development which will result in improved practice throughout the nursery.  

 

Guidelines

Each year there is a finite amount of time and money available for staff development. Individual’s needs are assessed through performance management interviews, annual appraisal interviews, monitoring, self-evaluation, and whole nursery improvements.

 

The Nursery Manager will take the requests and needs of each individual and tailor make the package to suit the individual’s needs.

 

The professional development will take a variety of forms such as:-

·         Visiting another nursery to observe a specific action or event watching a colleague in the nursery carry out a particular activity

·         Attending a development course

·         Reviewing job descriptions

·         Staff training days

·         Membership of working parties

·         Access to professional journals

·         Mentoring students

 

This list is not exclusive, opportunities for professional development will be carefully considered and imaginative ways of developing will always be encouraged.

 

The professional development activities will be monitored for their impact on nursery performance.

 

Staff members will sometimes be asked for a brief written report on the aspect of professional development undertaken with a focus on how the investment will improve their practice.

 

The Nursery Manager will keep an overview of professional development issues each year. The records can be accessed by individuals for their own professional purposes.

 

© 2010