The continuing professional development of Scottish early years workers: using evidence to move from policy to practice

Liz Seagraves, Rae Condie

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

Abstract

Until recently in Scotland, there has been little in the way of coherent and consistent policies for the pre-service preparation of early years practitioners nor for their ongoing continuous professional development. The New Standard for Childhood Practice and the Early Years Framework address exactly these issues but new policies in themselves do not improve practice. Turning policy into practice is notoriously difficult as it often requires practitioners to reflect upon and change long-held beliefs and conceptions of their role and the workplace - and uncomfortable and often unwelcome strategy. In Scotland, recent educational initiatives have invested significantly in staff development programmes designed to introduce new ways of working. In this instance, those charged with implementing the new early years policy decided that such a programme would be more effective if based on an understanding of the needs and aspirations of practitioners and managers themselves and an awareness of the provision already made. They therefore commissioned a team of researchers from the University of Strathclyde to investigate the needs of and document the continuing professional development provision available to early years managers and practitioners. Drawing on documentary analysis and two phases of evidence gathering from practitioners, their managers and local authority officers, this paper presents some of the key findings from the review, set within the context of the early years debate and the government's aspirations for the sector.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusUnpublished - 2009
Event19th EECERA annual conference: diversities in early childhood education - Strasbourg,
Duration: 26 Aug 2009 → 29 Aug 2009

Conference

Conference19th EECERA annual conference: diversities in early childhood education
CityStrasbourg,
Period26/08/09 → 29/08/09

Fingerprint

worker
manager
evidence
workplace
childhood
staff

Keywords

  • continuing professional development
  • scottish early years workers
  • policy
  • practice

Cite this

Seagraves, L., & Condie, R. (2009). The continuing professional development of Scottish early years workers: using evidence to move from policy to practice. Paper presented at 19th EECERA annual conference: diversities in early childhood education, Strasbourg, .
Seagraves, Liz ; Condie, Rae. / The continuing professional development of Scottish early years workers: using evidence to move from policy to practice. Paper presented at 19th EECERA annual conference: diversities in early childhood education, Strasbourg, .
@conference{c7dbd32763434e1888fa3bdacfcf23fb,
title = "The continuing professional development of Scottish early years workers: using evidence to move from policy to practice",
abstract = "Until recently in Scotland, there has been little in the way of coherent and consistent policies for the pre-service preparation of early years practitioners nor for their ongoing continuous professional development. The New Standard for Childhood Practice and the Early Years Framework address exactly these issues but new policies in themselves do not improve practice. Turning policy into practice is notoriously difficult as it often requires practitioners to reflect upon and change long-held beliefs and conceptions of their role and the workplace - and uncomfortable and often unwelcome strategy. In Scotland, recent educational initiatives have invested significantly in staff development programmes designed to introduce new ways of working. In this instance, those charged with implementing the new early years policy decided that such a programme would be more effective if based on an understanding of the needs and aspirations of practitioners and managers themselves and an awareness of the provision already made. They therefore commissioned a team of researchers from the University of Strathclyde to investigate the needs of and document the continuing professional development provision available to early years managers and practitioners. Drawing on documentary analysis and two phases of evidence gathering from practitioners, their managers and local authority officers, this paper presents some of the key findings from the review, set within the context of the early years debate and the government's aspirations for the sector.",
keywords = "continuing professional development, scottish early years workers, policy, practice",
author = "Liz Seagraves and Rae Condie",
year = "2009",
language = "English",
note = "19th EECERA annual conference: diversities in early childhood education ; Conference date: 26-08-2009 Through 29-08-2009",

}

Seagraves, L & Condie, R 2009, 'The continuing professional development of Scottish early years workers: using evidence to move from policy to practice' Paper presented at 19th EECERA annual conference: diversities in early childhood education, Strasbourg, 26/08/09 - 29/08/09, .

The continuing professional development of Scottish early years workers: using evidence to move from policy to practice. / Seagraves, Liz; Condie, Rae.

2009. Paper presented at 19th EECERA annual conference: diversities in early childhood education, Strasbourg, .

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

TY - CONF

T1 - The continuing professional development of Scottish early years workers: using evidence to move from policy to practice

AU - Seagraves, Liz

AU - Condie, Rae

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Until recently in Scotland, there has been little in the way of coherent and consistent policies for the pre-service preparation of early years practitioners nor for their ongoing continuous professional development. The New Standard for Childhood Practice and the Early Years Framework address exactly these issues but new policies in themselves do not improve practice. Turning policy into practice is notoriously difficult as it often requires practitioners to reflect upon and change long-held beliefs and conceptions of their role and the workplace - and uncomfortable and often unwelcome strategy. In Scotland, recent educational initiatives have invested significantly in staff development programmes designed to introduce new ways of working. In this instance, those charged with implementing the new early years policy decided that such a programme would be more effective if based on an understanding of the needs and aspirations of practitioners and managers themselves and an awareness of the provision already made. They therefore commissioned a team of researchers from the University of Strathclyde to investigate the needs of and document the continuing professional development provision available to early years managers and practitioners. Drawing on documentary analysis and two phases of evidence gathering from practitioners, their managers and local authority officers, this paper presents some of the key findings from the review, set within the context of the early years debate and the government's aspirations for the sector.

AB - Until recently in Scotland, there has been little in the way of coherent and consistent policies for the pre-service preparation of early years practitioners nor for their ongoing continuous professional development. The New Standard for Childhood Practice and the Early Years Framework address exactly these issues but new policies in themselves do not improve practice. Turning policy into practice is notoriously difficult as it often requires practitioners to reflect upon and change long-held beliefs and conceptions of their role and the workplace - and uncomfortable and often unwelcome strategy. In Scotland, recent educational initiatives have invested significantly in staff development programmes designed to introduce new ways of working. In this instance, those charged with implementing the new early years policy decided that such a programme would be more effective if based on an understanding of the needs and aspirations of practitioners and managers themselves and an awareness of the provision already made. They therefore commissioned a team of researchers from the University of Strathclyde to investigate the needs of and document the continuing professional development provision available to early years managers and practitioners. Drawing on documentary analysis and two phases of evidence gathering from practitioners, their managers and local authority officers, this paper presents some of the key findings from the review, set within the context of the early years debate and the government's aspirations for the sector.

KW - continuing professional development

KW - scottish early years workers

KW - policy

KW - practice

UR - http://www.lefuret.org/19th%20EECERA/LIVRE%20FINAL3%20avec_COUV.pdf

M3 - Paper

ER -

Seagraves L, Condie R. The continuing professional development of Scottish early years workers: using evidence to move from policy to practice. 2009. Paper presented at 19th EECERA annual conference: diversities in early childhood education, Strasbourg, .

Access to Document