Future Creative’s Approach to Early Years Consultancy
The Childcare Act 2006 places a duty on the Early Years sector to improve outcomes for all young children and reduce the inequalities between them. An integral component of this strategy is the provision of high quality early learning and care. There is overwhelming evidence from research showing that high quality early learning and care is an essential foundation upon which children can build outcomes in school and in lifelong learning. There is direct correlation between exposure to quality early educational experiences and increased cognitive abilities.
Our Early Years Consultants at Future Creative believe that the development of a world-class early year’s workforce; high standards of content and environment; reflective practice; good knowledge and understanding of pedagogy and passionate, caring professionals make up this quality framework.
Why Early Years Consultants?
Over the course of the last ten years the government has made investment in the early years a priority. As a result the sector has developed into a coordinated, focused and respected workforce. This investment has led to an increased entitlement to early year’s education and the creation of Sure Start Children’s Centres in every community. The implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage in September 2008 places a statutory obligation on all to improve outcomes for children and their families.
Our teams of Early Years Consultants are able to provide strong, effective support to those working with children in the Foundation Stage. We have a strong focus on improving the quality of learning and development through advice, challenge and collaboration. Our work has involved Local Authorities, PVI settings, childminders, daycare providers, EYPs, crèche and play workers, children’s centres, and schools. Our consultancy is differentiated in acknowledgement of the fact that not all providers require the same level of support.
We develop professional and collaborative relationships with leaders, managers, practitioners and all those working with the Early Years Foundation Stage. Our approach to consultancy is based on co-learning, empathy, experience, knowledge and passion. Communication is key to developing effective relationships and managing change and development and our consultants are able to actively listen, question, respond and provide constructive, feasible and structure written feedback. Developing internal capacity to meet the challenges of the Early Years ensures that leaders and practitioners are able to reflect and react to issues for themselves. As consultants we provide an opportunity to monitor objectively, mentor practitioners and facilitate change and development.
Consultancy in Action
Consultancy is an investigative, collaborative and imaginative process that is not merely restricted to the physical time that the consultant may spend in your environment. It is a cycle of self-evaluation; reflection and reaction leading to sustained change and development. Engaging with the client is the first step to effective and meaningful consultancy; listening to those who know their practice best. Clear definitions and transparent conversations regarding the role of the consultant ensure that all parties understand that consultancy and inspection are separate entities.
Our consultants will spend time in your setting, gathering information, interpreting the information, making detailed observations, identifying priorities, generating opinions, making decisions and making recommendations. Our consultants will discuss the emerging issues, identify the range of possible causes, highlight the options and possibilities and collate these all into an action plan. It is essential that the whole staff teams are involved in all stages of the consultancy process; this results in a shared sense of ownership and, therefore; a more significant chance that the action plan will be successfully implemented. It is important that any action plan is supported by the leadership of the setting and that the organisation has the capability to deliver on the actions. Change will be process developed internally; in contrast to an imposition of organisational change delivered by the consultants. On-going consultancy support ensures the implementation of the action plan is effectively managed and achieved.
For more information please contact our Early Years consultants Beth and Rob .
Or to download the Early Years Brochure please click here.