for SOUTHERN ADELAIDE Preschool Leaders May 2009

1. DemystifyingDIAf for SOUTHERN ADELAIDE Preschool Leaders May 2009

2. Objectives To reinforce / further develop your understanding of the DIAf To make relevant connections between DIAf and your work in Preschools To investigate how the framework can support your work

3. “Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted”. Albert Einstein What challenges does this present for preschool leaders?

4. DECS Improvement & Accountability Framework (DIAf) • The purpose of DIAf: To reflect on the effectiveness of our programs, practices and performance To continuously improve processes and outcomes By working together, achieve high quality standards for all learners How do these statements of purpose resonate with your work?

5. DECS Improvement & Accountability Framework (DIAf) Provides the framework or cycle for improvement to occur Aligns and coordinates the work of leaders and staff Promotes a culture of reflection  improvement  achievement at the site, classroom and learner levels Focuses site processes and practices on learners and improving their outcomes

6. Test... • Name the nine principles of improvement & effectiveness within DIAf • Name the five elements of DIAf (You may collaborate, but not CHEAT!!)

7. Principles These principles are based on current educational research and knowledge of high performing organisational improvement processes They can be viewed as the organisational compass or lighthouse upon which we should keep our eye

8. Focus on Learning • Think Systemically • Set Direction • Share Leadership • Make Data Count • Target Resources • Attend to Culture • Listen & Respond • Continuously Improve

9. What might be the key roles for a leader in making these principles LIVE in our preschool? Table Talk

10. Five Preschool Contexts Stoll and Fink 1996 Strolling

11. Improvement is ……….. NEVER NEUTRAL Certainly NOT SIMPLE It happens in a CONTEXT It happens with HISTORY and in a STAGE of the development cycle It happens at a TIME and in a time frame/period It relies on PEOPLE and their willingness, readiness and ability It is EMOTIONAL, political & social

12. DECS Improvement & Accountability Framework IS ABOUT … asking the right (tough) questions AND ... acting upon the answers to move your preschool forward

13. What are we aiming to achieve? How good is your preschool? What are its performance expectations?

14. How are we doing? How do we know? What are the implications for your preschool?

15. What more do we need to do? Where to from here? What processes might you use to ensure all staff engage with this?

16. What will we do to ensure success? What programs and strategies do you put in place to ensure success for your learners and your preschool overall?

17. Who will we inform and how? Who are your key clients and stakeholders and how do you inform them about your learners and preschool’s performance?

18. The Framework Elements Standards Self Review Improvement Planning Intervention & Support Performance Reporting

19. How and when do you do these in your current practice? Plan for improvement based on sound information Define standards Table Talk Regularly and routinely self assess how we are going as a centre Report to clients and stakeholders on our performance Systematically identify the needs of learners Develop research based strategies to support the needs of children

20. Make sure it doesn’t become your life’s work by making it a normal part of your working life HOW KISS SIMPLIFY INVOLVE SHARE BUY TIME QUANTIFY

21. PRESCHOOL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 2009

22. Sustainable leadership doesn’t equivocate. It puts learning at the centre of everything leaders do. Learners learning comes first, then everyone else’s in support of it. Stoll, Fink and Earl (2003)