Confluence Podcast Episode Focuses on Importance of Supervision
The Pennsylvania Key’s latest Confluence podcast focuses on the importance of supervision and shares scenarios and strategies for providers.
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In the episode, Putting Our Eyes on Supervision: It’s Essential, hosts Ruby Martin and Chris Loos share strategies from the field that allow providers to think strategically about preventing serious supervision issues.
“I have been in the field for over 35 years - in a leadership position for most of that time - in centers running programs,” said Martin, the director of the Bureau of Certification Services for the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). “I’ve run into my fair share of supervision issues and it is never a good thing if a child slips from a classroom or you leave a kid somewhere for five seconds, 20 seconds, or three minutes, or somebody gets out of the building or gets away from you when you’re outside.”
Martin said the goal of the podcast episode was not to shame or scare educators, but rather to focus on learning and improve the process of keeping children safe.
Noos - OCDEL’s Regional Manager for the Western Region - added that providers should always have staff present with a group of children and make sure that they can see, hear, direct, and assess the activity of children at all times. Staff members should know what each child is wearing on a particular day so they can keep an eye on them.
If, for example, children are on the playground and the primary teacher must step away for a moment, they should tell the children that the program’s floating supervisor will be in charge for the next few minutes. This way, children will know they are being supervised and will know who to go to if they need anything.
The hosts also said it is important that staff sweep areas such as playgrounds before children go outside to play to make sure the space is safe. They should look for any dangerous objects - items that could be used as weapons or drug paraphernalia - lying around that should be removed before children can play in the area.
For more scenarios and strategies regarding supervision in early childhood settings, listen to the new Confluence podcast episode.