Community of practice

Supervision in education by educators

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Definition of Supervision

There are different types of supervision and multiple definitions.

Our approach is informed by reflective or professional supervision, and our working definition (derived from Hawkins and Shohet’s definition) is:

Supervision in education is a non-judgemental, collaborative process where education practitioners are supported to reflect on their values, practice, relationships, the emotional demands of their work and the impact of these and the wider education system on their psychological wellbeing. It can contribute to best practice, effective relationships, enhanced wellbeing, and professional and personal development.

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History and rationale

In this 5 minute video Rachel and Jenny explain the origins of the Community of Practice and why they believe it is so important.

Our community of practice has been established to provide a supportive environment for educators who deliver or are developing supervision in education where:

  • Current best practice, resources and research are shared
  • New knowledge is created
  • The provision of supervision in education by educators is advanced.

Vision

High quality supervision in education by educators

Mission

  • To advocate for high quality supervision in education
  • To support and develop the best practice of supervision through research, resources and collaboration
  • To uphold a guiding framework of ethics and competencies that facilitates high quality supervision in education by educators
  • To give a voice to supervisors with an education background so that members of the education community know there are options around who supervises them
  • To support all education professionals to thrive so that they can promote quality education for children and young people in our education settings through high quality supervision.

Values

The core values that underpin our Community of Practice are:

  • Self-awareness: continuous awareness of self and the CoP’s strengths, development and impact
  • Openness: being  courageous in giving and receiving support and challenge
  • Respect: acknowledge and respect our own and others’ experience, views, rights and beliefs
  • Partnership and collaboration: working together with trust honesty and transparency
Being a member

Members are able to connect, collaborate and form peer support groups, research partnerships and work delivery partnerships

Members have access to 6 meetings a year to discuss key learning, development and research.

Members have access to the members only area of the webpage, where information from meetings or other sources found by members are shared and discussions are continued.

Members are listed on this website so that they can be recognised as educator supervisors who meet the membership requirements.

There is the opportunity to be a member of the community as an advocate member, this is for those who are not delivering supervision currently but who are in  the research, learning and development spaces.

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Our Members

Members are listed on the meet our members page of the website so that they can be recognised as educator supervisors who meet the membership requirements. If you are looking to find a supervisor to work with you or your organisation who has an education background, please view the members page and contact them directly via the information they have shared.

contact us

You may have a question about becoming a member, or what our community can do for you. Or you may just want to know more about Supervision. Please get in touch by clicking the button.