Case Study Observations
Why observe practice?
The classroom observation element of the research seeks to capture how the Foundation Phase is delivered on the ground. It focuses on the types of learning activities that children engage in and how different resources and areas of the school are used. The observations do not require any interactions with children and will not interfere with teaching or learning. They do not focus on individual children, but rather on the class environment and learning activities as a whole. It is important to note that this research does not evaluate members of staff or individual schools, but instead attempts to appraise the Foundation Phase as a policy by considering how it is enacted in different classrooms in Wales.
What do the observations involve?
Ideally, the observations would be for a whole day in each class. Keeping at a distance, I will simply take notes on a clipboard. I will have a few quick questions for the class teacher to answer at the beginning or end of the session and will be as unobtrusive as possible. I am an experienced researcher, have worked within Foundation Phase classrooms on a voluntary basis over a number of years and will follow COVID secure protocols at all times. Neither teachers, children or the school will be named in any of my field notes or research outputs. My notes will be stored securely, retained for 5 years and destroyed in accordance with GDPR (2018). All participants have the right to withdraw from the research at any time, without detriment.
Consent
Practitioners will be asked to sign a consent form prior to observations in their class being made.
The classroom observation element of the research seeks to capture how the Foundation Phase is delivered on the ground. It focuses on the types of learning activities that children engage in and how different resources and areas of the school are used. The observations do not require any interactions with children and will not interfere with teaching or learning. They do not focus on individual children, but rather on the class environment and learning activities as a whole. It is important to note that this research does not evaluate members of staff or individual schools, but instead attempts to appraise the Foundation Phase as a policy by considering how it is enacted in different classrooms in Wales.
What do the observations involve?
Ideally, the observations would be for a whole day in each class. Keeping at a distance, I will simply take notes on a clipboard. I will have a few quick questions for the class teacher to answer at the beginning or end of the session and will be as unobtrusive as possible. I am an experienced researcher, have worked within Foundation Phase classrooms on a voluntary basis over a number of years and will follow COVID secure protocols at all times. Neither teachers, children or the school will be named in any of my field notes or research outputs. My notes will be stored securely, retained for 5 years and destroyed in accordance with GDPR (2018). All participants have the right to withdraw from the research at any time, without detriment.
Consent
Practitioners will be asked to sign a consent form prior to observations in their class being made.
