6.4 Effective collaboration

Collaborative working with partner services and agencies, and parents/carers is normally the responsibility of a member of the school leadership team. Collaboration is also required in school: between all staff who teach / support the learner, Pupil Support Assistants and with learners themselves.

In order to support collaboration, clear lines of communication and agreement of roles and responsibilities need to be in place. This, together with a culture which respects and values the perspectives and contributions of everyone in the team, promotes effective collaboration.

Activity 16: Effective collaboration

a. 

Shared understanding of the demands and expectations placed on the learner, particularly related to the curriculum


b. 

Clear mutual focus on meeting learners’ needs


c. 

A good personal relationship


d. 

Sharing of specialist knowledge, skills, ideas and resources - consider joint training


e. 

To reduce parental anxiety, the regular sharing of information about assessment, intervention, management and future plans is only shared between practitioners


f. 

Mutual recognition of time constraints and other pressures


g. 

Highlighting time constraints and other pressures


h. 

Collaborative communication limited to the school leadership team


The correct answers are a, b, c, d and f.

Download a range of characteristics [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]   which education staff reported were important for effective collaboration. These were collated through The Secondary CIRCLE Framework but are applicable in 3-18 settings.

Reflective Task: Effective collaboration

In your Reflective Log consider 2-3 of the questions below and note your reflections in your log:

  • What works well in current collaborations?
  • How could the reciprocal flow of information between all those involved in supporting a learner be improved in your school?
  • How does communication and collaboration with partner services and agencies take place within your school? How do you contribute to this process?
  • Consider a situation where you collaborate with others. Reflect on the features of effective collaboration and make a note of the strengths and the areas for improvement.
  • What are the roles and responsibilities of any partner services and agencies currently working with any learners that you teach?

Optional Reflective Task: Effective collaboration

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The icon represents pair or group work and is an image of two stylised forms overlapping which represent two people. One is in a deep teal colour and the other is lime.

The following questions can be used when engaging in professional dialogue during professional learning opportunities and discussions with colleagues.

In your Reflective Log consider the questions below and note your reflections in your log:

  • Consider a situation where you collaborate with others. Reflect on the features of effective collaboration and make a note of the strengths and the areas for improvement.
  • What are the roles and responsibilities of any partner services and agencies currently working with any learners that you teach?

6.3 Partner services and agencies

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