Day 1 Mentor Training – supporting good management

Overview of Mentors role –  A mentor is responsible for supporting supplementary schools through the development process, giving guidance, and acting as a critical friend. We expect each mentor to work with a group of schools, of which no more than three or four at a time will be preparing for assessment. Mentors will be fully trained and prepared for their role, and will work with our Quality Development Advice Team to ensure standardised assessment.

Training takes place over two days. Day 1 teaches best practice in supporting a school to build a management file. Day 2 training offers an opportunity for moderation and provides training on how to support schools to build a portfolio of evidence of teaching practice in preparation for a Quality Recognition Meeting.

Book your place in our online shop

Each mentor will:

• Hold a group meeting to introduce Quality Assurance and facilitate initial self-assessment
• Help supplementary schools to write and implement their action plans for development and preparation of management documents and procedures in line with local Section 11 requirements and guide them to the self-assessment pages of the NRCSE website.
• Organise appropriate training and peer support workshops to meet identified needs.
• Check that each school has included all the necessary documentation for a Supplementary School Management File and that policies and procedures are actively implemented.
• Visit each school while it is in session, talk to pupils, parents, teachers and volunteers, give feedback to suggest improvements and development and write a witness statement supporting each award.

Day 1 – Overview, management and safeguarding

1. Get an overview of the whole Quality Assurance process.
2. Get to know and understand the Supplementary Schools’ Code of Practice and the online management and safeguarding self-assessment tool.
3. Consider different ways of engaging supplementary schools and encouraging them to work for the NRCSE Quality Mark.
4. Consider how to make the process developmental.
5. Practise ways of being a critical friend.
6. Compiling and assessing a management file.
7. Making a visit and writing a witness statement for the Quality Mark recognition process.
8. Agree standards expected in management files and discuss any issues arising from management file assessment.