To Headteachers of all Infant, First and Primary Schools Including Special Schools with Reception Children

Appointing Additional Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Moderators

Local Authorities are responsible for establishing moderator systems for schools and settings in their area. We have an effective core team of teacher moderators who have worked together for some time and we now need to expand the group by recruiting a further ten people. We are keen to continue to work in partnership with schools by appointing teachers with recognised good early years practice to become Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Moderators. The skills and experience required to become a moderator are outlined in the attached documents.

We hope that many teachers will come forward and regard this exciting opportunity as a way of extending their professional skills whilst still maintaining their classroom based routine and that schools will benefit from the enhanced skills and experience that the teachers acquire.

The National Assessment Agency is currently developing an accreditation scheme to increase the consistency of high quality moderation and to recognise the important work of moderators in supporting early years practitioners. It is envisaged that all moderators nationally will be accredited in the year 2009-2010.

Our current moderators enjoy the privilege of visiting a wide range of different sized schools and say they learn much from working alongside other practitioners.

All LA moderators can expect to -

Receive two days of training to become a moderator

Attend one day moderator's professional development each term

Attend one cross LA moderator agreement trail each year

Work for no more than 20 days per year in moderation activities within schools/settings

Keep abreast of changes and developments in the Foundation Stage

Serve for three years as a LA moderator

Be willing to become a nationally accredited moderator by 2010

All moderators will receive -

Travel expenses at the county council rate of 24.2 pence per mile.

All moderator's schools will receive -

Supply cover costs of £172 per day.

All short listed applicants will be required to attend a brief interview at a Professional Development Centre in the autumn term 2008 and the headteacher will be invited to submit a supporting statement for the application.

Moderation will take place at a number of times during the year, not just in the summer term. Clearly we will wish to keep any disruption to the children's learning and teachers' work load to a minimum and therefore moderation would not take place close to the beginning and end of terms or during Ofsted inspections.

We would be grateful if you could share this information with your colleagues in the early years and encourage them to apply using the attached forms. Application forms need to returned by Thursday 31st July and addressed for the attention of Fiona Musters, Professional Development Centre, Woodside Road, Norwich, NR7 9QL.

If you or your early years colleagues would like to discuss any details before making an application. Please contacted Fiona Musters at the Norwich Professional Development Centre 010603 433276 or by email.

Please view the attached Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Moderator Job Description and Requirements and Application Form.