Observation of Teaching Learning and Assessment - information for tutors
| Site: | Hampshire Participation and Lifelong Learning |
| Course: | Tutor Handbook |
| Book: | Observation of Teaching Learning and Assessment - information for tutors |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Saturday, 10 May 2025, 6:52 PM |
Description
This book is intended to help you to prepare for your teaching, learning and assessment observation.
The Role of Hampshire Achieves
The course which you teach is supported by Hampshire County Council’s Hampshire Achieves. Your class is supported by funds from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and is required to meet the quality standards of Ofsted as set out in the Education Inspection Framework (EIF).
In order to assure the quality of Hampshire Achieves adult community learning provision, and to strive to continually improve its quality, we carry out observations of teaching, learning and assessment on a regular basis.
The two principal reasons for the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Observation process are:
- to support tutors and centre managers in developing and delivering courses that meet the needs of learners; and the quality of the courses we run; and
- to provide us with monitoring data to inform on-going quality improvement.
Additionally, the feedback, comments and resulting grades of the observation team enable us, in conjunction with your local centre, to produce an annual Self Assessment Report, which accurately describes the overall strengths and weaknesses both of Hampshire Achieves as a whole and of the adult community learning classes you deliver on the County Council’s behalf.
Hampshire Achieves expectation is that tutors are observed on an annual basis, either by the tutor's own centre or by a member of the Hampshire Achieves team. In addition to observe new tutors within the first two terms or six months of starting employment.
How your observation will be arranged
In almost every case, you will be observed by a trained observer from Hampshire Achieves.
We have an agreed protocol for the observation programme and all observers are experienced in teaching and/or managing adult and community learning classes and have been trained as classroom observers.
Prior to an observation
- You will be given a 2 days notice that an observation will be taking place. This observation notice will come from your centre manager.
- We suggest that you inform your learners that the session will, or may, be observed.
- Please advise your line manager as to whether the observer will need to be aware of any special circumstances, for example: will safety equipment/ clothing be required? Will the session be a field trip? Will a nude model be present in the case of an art class? Is it a women-only class? Are there any special sensitivities relating to learners or the overall class?
- You will be asked to provide the observer with a copy of you scheme of work and session plan.
The Obseration
The principal objective is to observe what learning is taking place and the impact this is having on people attending your class. Observers use the Education Inspection Framework criteria, as the basis for the judgements they make when visiting classes. Grades are awarded, for the whole learning experience, as follows:
- Outstanding
- Good
- Satisfactory
- Inadequate
Observations will normally last between 45 minutes and an hour
Please provide the observer with your course file, including course details, a scheme of work, session plan etc – see the Tutor Course File Checklist. The observer will want to see your marked class register
You are also required to email a copy of your scheme of work to the observer at least two days prior to the observation and to provide an additional hard copy of your session plan at the start of the session
The observer will take notes during the session
The observer will want to talk to your learners for a few minutes, usually on a one-to-one basis whilst they are working on solo or small group activities. This should not cause major disruption to your planning and approach, but please try to structure the session, where possible, so that this is feasible, or arrange a suitable break
The observer would prefer to sit where they can see both you and the learners. They may move around the room if the learners move around, move into groups or are involved in an activity
Do not involve the
observer in the session (ie don’t plan for them to join in or help learners)
Feedback
At the end of the visit, or at a suitable break in the class, if feasible, the observer will offer you brief feedback (away from your learners) based on the evidence They have gathered and the judgements they have made. If this is likely to be difficult, the observer may arrange to telephone you at an agreed time. You will not be given a grade, as all grades are subject to moderation
Following your observation we would like you to take some time to reflect on the process and to complete an Observation of Teaching and Learning – Tutor Feedback form Quality Documentation, summarising your initial thoughts, and which you will share with you Centre Manager at your OTL review meeting
After the visit
The observer will write up their report and send it to Hampshire Achieves. This will contribute to the overall findings on the quality of teaching and learning
Once the report has been reviewed the report will be sent to your Centre Manager. All reports are subject to moderation which takes place fortnightly. Your initial grade may be changed following moderation. If this happens your Centre Manager will be notified and an amended report will be sent.
Grade 3's and 4's
WE expect all tutors to be teaching at grade 1 or 2.
Should your observed practice be graded as requires improvement (3) or inadequate (4) then your Centre Manager in conjunction with Hampshire Achieves will provide you with support and feedback.
Once you have had time to make the improvement you will be re-observed.
Further details of this can be found in our Observation Teaching, Learning and Assessment policy and procedure.
Disputes
If you do not agree with your graded observation outcome you are entitled to dispute this.
Details of how to do this can be found in the Observation of Teaching Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedure (available on the VLE)