Leadership and management
Appraisal
Appraisals in early years refers to a formal process that evaluates and reviews the performance of childcare workers over a specified period, typically a year. This meeting provides an opportunity for both the employee and the employer to engage in a structured dialogue about the employees’ contributions, areas of improvement, and future goals.
An appraisal system usually takes the form of a series of short supervisory meetings during the year, followed by a more formal appraisal once a year. The following diagram shows the cycle of effective appraisal/supervision.
Appraisals play a crucial role in supporting staff development and improving the overall setting through:
- Enabling professional development
- Boosting morale
- Sharing expectations
- Providing support and training
- Creating an open dialogue:
The Warwickshire Early Years and Childcare Appraisal Tool Kit (PDF, 342 KB) has been designed as a framework to support Early Years Providers to review and shape their own policies and procedures for staff appraisal.
The tool kit contains a framework for developing an appraisal policy, a one-minute guide to appraisal and appraisal forms.
