Observations of Teaching and Learning Policy

Bedfordshire Adult Skills and Community Learning
Observations of Teaching and Learning
Policy 2013/14
Version 1
January 2014
PL003 Observations of Teaching and Learning Policy 2013-14
Page 1 of 6
Document Control
Document approved for release: 06/01/2014 by the Adult Skills Service Manager
Version Control
Version 1
Effective Date: 01 January 2014
Review Dates
01 July 2014
Linked Policies
None
Location and Access to the Policy
This policy is located in BASS\08 Quality and Inclusion\10 Policy and on the Central Bedfordshire
website http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/learning/adult-learning
Person Responsible for the Policy
Quality and Inclusion Manager
PL003 Observations of Teaching and Learning Policy 2013-14
Page 2 of 6
1.0
Scope and Purpose of Policy
The purpose of the policy is to provide clear guidelines on the expectation of Bedfordshire Adult
Skills and Community Learning (BASCL) with regard to observations of teaching, learning and
assessment. The BASCL direct delivery team and commissioned providers are covered by this
policy.
2.0
Policy Statement
Observations of Teaching and Learning are used within the Quality Framework to monitor the
quality of teaching learning and assessment in line with the Ofsted Common Inspection
Framework. OTLs are co-ordinated and information is collated and reviewed via a service central
record to inform quality processes and action planning to improve outcomes for learners and to
share good practice.
3.0
Policy
3.1
Reasons for observations
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3.2
To monitor the quality of teaching, learning and assessment in direct delivery and
commissioned programmes
To ensure that learners have a good learning experience and outcomes are being
met
To assess the extent to which learners feel safe
To assess the extent to which Equality and Diversity is implemented
To assess the extent to which embedding of maths and English is implemented
To assess the extent to which ILT is used effectively
To gather learner feedback on outcomes and the quality of teaching and learning
To support tutors by identifying and enabling the sharing of good practice
To support tutors by identifying and support aspects of teaching that require
improvement or are inadequate
To inform the provision of on-going continuous professional development for tutors
and providers, including the identification of training and development needs
To gather evidence about the quality of teaching, learning and assessment to inform
planning, self assessment and quality improvement plans
Observers
Observations of teaching, learning and assessments are undertaken by the direct delivery team,
providers and external OTL providers.
•
•
•
3.3
Observers should have been awarded a Grade 2 or above in the current year or
previous year they are undertaking observations.
Observers should have a minimum adult teaching qualifications of PTLLs or equivalent.
Observers should have relevant safeguarding and equality & diversity training or CPD
within the last 12 month period prior to undertaking observations.
OTL overview
•
The direct delivery team and providers are responsible for undertaking 100% OTLs
for all lead tutors delivering BASCL funded programmes within an academic year.
PL003 Observations of Teaching and Learning Policy 2013-14
Page 3 of 6
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3.4
All OTLs must be carried out with reference to the Ofsted Common Inspection
Framework and using the BASCL mandatory PM009 Observation Report Form.
All new tutors delivering BASCL funded programmes must be observed during the
first term that they teach from academic year 2014-15.
An additional observation must take place within the academic year if the
observation report identifies the overall grade awarded is 4 or where more than 8 of
the 11 areas A1-B7 are graded 3 or below.
The direct delivery or provider BASCL programme manager, as specified in the contract
register, is responsible for ensuring actions in section E (Improving outcomes for
learners) and section G (Minimising risk to learners) are collated, monitored and
evidenced on completion with these records available on request.
BASCL may carry out informal visits to direct delivery and provider sessions in addition
to the OTL schedule without prior notice.
External observation teams will undertake a minimum of one OTL per provider
annually to support moderation, assess key themes, to evidence the impact of
quality improvement plans and to feedback on strengths and areas for improvement
in OTL processes and procedures.
External observations are carried out in addition to provider’s own observations. If a
tutor is observed by the external observation team they should still be observed by
the provider to ensure moderation is effective and that providers are operating full
quality assurance processes in respect of delivery of the programmes they are
contracted to deliver.
External observations will be carried out at 3 working days notice to ensure the
direct delivery team and providers are prepared for inspection in respect of
observations of teaching, learning and assessment.
Completed external observation reports will be submitted to the Quality & Inclusion
Manager then forwarded via email to the providers BASCL programme manager
specified in the contract register. The programme manager will be required to complete
Section E (Improving outcomes for learners) and Section G (Minimising risk to learners)
of the report form and return it to the Quality & Inclusion Manager within 10 working
days.
OTL procedure
•
•
•
•
•
All direct delivery and provider programme tutors will be identified and logged on the
BASCL OTL Central Record from TERMS staff timetables checked at each SFA return
date. If courses do not have tutors allocated this will be flagged then followed up by the
relevant contract management officer.
Contract management officers will monitor the BASCL OTL Central Record and request
a planned OTL date from providers for all active tutors.
The external OTL provider will select a tutor and session for observation based on staff
timetables aiming for 50% Community Learning and 50% Adult Skills Budget
observations. Where possible external observations will be for tutors already graded by
the direct delivery team or provider to enable effective moderation to take place.
External OTLs may be arranged so that a joint OTL takes place to support moderation
processes.
The tutor will be informed by their provider programme manager, with 3 working days
notice, that an observation will be carried out
The tutor will be present 15 minutes before the session start time in order to discuss the
observation, agree a time for feedback and to give the observer information about the
group.
PL003 Observations of Teaching and Learning Policy 2013-14
Page 4 of 6
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3.5
OTL protocol
•
•
•
•
•
•
3.6
The tutor will provide the observer with the register, learner ILP’s and a risk assessment
along with a copy of the session plan for the session being observed and the course
scheme of work. A course file that is complete, fully up to date and in good order should
be available during the observation. The course risk assessment will be checked to
ensure the tutor is taking account of any safeguarding and health & safety risks that
have been identified.
The observer attends the session and records the details for session on the mandatory
BASCL OTL report form PM009.
For direct delivery and provider observations the observer will feedback to the tutor
either immediately after the observation or within 5 working days to agree an action plan
for training and/or CPD and to agree any actions in relation to Section G (Minimising
risk to learners) if required. All tutors with an overall grade 3 or below must have an
action plan that includes further training, CPD or mentoring support.
The observer completes BASCL Observation Report Form PM009 and submits it within
10 working days, along with a copy of the session plan, SOW and handouts, to the
relevant BASCL contract management officer. External OTLs are submitted direct to the
Quality and Inclusion Manager.
Observation report data is collated into the BASCL OTL Central Record by the Quality
and Inclusion Manager.
Action points identified in OTL reports are collated in the Quality and Inclusion
Monitoring log book for tracking and to inform action planning. Good practice in
teaching, learning and assessment is identified with action planning to share and
cascade.
For external observations the observer will give feed back after the observation has
taken place. The provider will then organise a follow up feedback meeting with the tutor
when a copy of the report is received to agree an action plan for training and/or CPD
and to agree any action in relation to Section G (Minimising risk to learners) if required.
Observers may wish to observe the whole session but will observe for one hour as a
minimum.
The observation should cause minimal disruption to the class.
Observers should only make qualitative judgments for areas they can evidence either
through observation or documentation. If a qualitative judgement can not be made then
the area should be noted as ‘not seen’.
Feedback to tutors is a requirement of the observation process and cannot be refused
by the tutor.
Tutors should receive a copy of the observation report form from their programme
manager for their records and to support CPD.
Observers will show respect for the confidentiality of any information gained in the
course of carrying out the observation
OTL grading
•
Observations are graded in line with 4 point OFSTED grades:
Grade 1 – Outstanding
Grade 2 – Good
Grade 3 – Requires improvement
Grade 4 – Inadequate
•
The KPI for observation grades are:
PL003 Observations of Teaching and Learning Policy 2013-14
Page 5 of 6
75% of observations to be at Grade 2 or above
10% at Grade 1
65% at Grade 2
20% at Grade 3
5% at Grade 4
•
3.7
In the case of re-observations the second grade will be counted
OTL appeals procedure
•
•
•
The tutor should be informed about their right to appeal during feedback from the
observer – see bottom of page 5 on PM009 Observation Report Form.
If a tutor wants to appeal against the comments or grading given they should leave
the report unsigned, tick the appeal box at the bottom of page 5 of the Observation
Report Form and contact the programme manager in their organisation within 5
working days.
In the event of the appeal being unresolved the programme manager will inform the
BASCL Quality & Inclusion Manager, who will further investigate the nature of the
appeal and will make appropriate judgements and recommendations.
PL003 Observations of Teaching and Learning Policy 2013-14
Page 6 of 6

Download Report