Educational & Social Services

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

Quality Improvement

• The Quality Improvement Team (QIT) aims to develop excellence in education and to improve opportunities for all through quality, equality, access and partnership.

The aims of QIT reflect the statement of commitment of the Department of Educational and Social Services:
• to promote the principles and practice of self-evaluation
• to support the development of independent learners and reflective practitioners
• to ensure access for all to a full range of courses and services
• to work with other agencies to promote the aims of the department.

The Quality Improvement Team achieved Charter Mark status in January 2006

KEY FUNCTIONS AND SERVICE DELIVERY

The authority is required by law to ensure the provision of effective school education in its area. The QIT has a crucial role in ensuring that this duty is fulfilled.

QIT has three main areas of activity:
• quality development and continuous improvement
• educational development
• challenge and support to establishments and services.

QIT does this by analysing performance data, by ensuring that local authority and national priorities are taken forward and by drawing on the knowledge built up by Quality Improvement Officers (QIOs) of the schools they work with to inform strategic planning and policy development.

The role of the QIO is thus central to raising standards in line with National Priorities, thus enabling the authority to satisfy Quality Management in Education (QMIE) criteria on performance monitoring. QIOs play a key role in follow-through inspections of schools in cooperation with HMIe, where they are required to:
• be familiar with all aspects of East Ayrshire education policy and be seen to represent the Director of Education and Social Services when visiting schools or when involved with other agencies
• be able to analyse and use statistics to challenge schools to improve and to present these to school managers and the directorate
• devise strategies to address areas where performance should be improved, monitor such developments and report on progress
• be informed about local and national priorities and ensure that there are taken forward in the authority’s establishments
• identify professional development opportunities needed to promote the improvement agenda
• advise on and participate in the appointment of senior promoted posts in schools
• draw on their knowledge of schools to inform strategic planning and policy development
• support and monitor school development planning
• apply HMIe procedures in inspection and follow-through reports.

How Services are Provided

QIT is based at Woodstock Centre, Kilmarnock. However, a considerable proportion of its work is carried out during visits to establishments. The service is maintained throughout the calendar year with team members being available to respond to requests from schools, School Boards and parents alike. This is done directly, by correspondence or on a telephone/e-mail helpline basis.

Partnerships

To support the authority effectively, the Quality Improvement Team is required to work with all establishments and services. There are close links with colleagues in neighbouring authorities and in other departments of East Ayrshire Council such as Community Services and Development Services. It is also essential that individual officers link to Police, Health Services, external consultants, and voluntary organisations. Much work is done in close co-operation with the Scottish Executive and HMIe. An important aspect of work is undertaken in partnership with the local Further and Higher Education Institutions, Careers Scotland and in co-operation with the local business community and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire.

Service Standards

The operation of the Team is guided by the quality indicators in Quality Management in Education and can be benchmarked to HMIe reports on other Scottish Authorities and by the criteria within “How Good is Our School 2002?” and "The Child at the Centre". Standards and targets in attainment have been set for the authority and these lie within the Quality Improvement Team’s area of responsibility. The Team is also bound by the customer care standards of the Council.

Other Information

More than any other service in the authority, the QIT provides a mechanism for flexible response in relation to need. Members of the team may therefore be required by the Director to meet any demands on the service.

Self Evaluation

As part of its programme of self-evaluation, the QIT systematically reviews aspects of its provision to schools and other stakeholders. Stakeholder evaluations of the support and services the Team provides are available on request.

The QIT is encouraged by the positive response to the services it provides, but recognises there are areas for improvement. The feedback received from stakeholders has informed the QIT’s own Service Plan and provided the baseline for future and continuous improvement.

HM Inspectors of Education have embarked on a programme of Inspections of Education Authorities throughout the country. The framework 'Quality Management in Education' produced by HMIe has become the agenda for continuous improvement by which local authorities now operate.

Strategic Objectives 2007-2010

1. To support and challenge establishments in moving from good to excellent based on the ten dimensions set out in A Journey to Excellence.

2. To consolidate the principles and practices of rigorous self-evaluation using the Improvement Framework of HGIOS3.

3. To revise and improve the Quality Health Check in response to A Journey to Excellence and HGIOS3.

4. To provide a comprehensive pre and post inspection support programme for establishments.

5. To carry out agreed Thematic Evaluations as part of the Department’s Strategic Quality Improvement Framework.

6. To extend and develop the Team’s involvement in the Child Protection Inspection process.

7. To contribute knowledge and expertise in implementing the Framework for Evaluating Services for Children and Young People

8. To support and challenge establishments in the delivery of the highest quality learning experiences for children and young people through A Curriculum for Excellence.

Contact the Quality Improvement Team

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