Reflective Supervision for Early Childhood Coaches

Reflective Supervision/Consultation (RS/C) is a relationship that supports the professional development and growth of coaches and other early childhood professionals through regular, collaborative reflection between consistent partners or a group of consistent partners. This partnership builds reflective capacity and program quality as the individuals discuss strengths, vulnerabilities and to better understand the complex relationships that center around the child.

The primary objectives of RS/C include:

• Forming a trusting relationship between supervisor/consultant, RS/C partners, and practitioners.
• Asking and answering questions that encourage details about children, interactions, families and work relationships to better understand challenges and opportunities within their relationships.
• Guiding professionals to discover their own strengths and make adjustments to their practice.
• Nurturing and supporting the ongoing relationships that occur within the working environment.
• Exploring and using the parallel process to increase the use and understanding of personal reflection.
• Connecting learning opportunities and the professionals’ experiences and reactions to their learning.

Early care and learning professionals benefit the most from professional development that is job-embedded and takes place with a trusted person. RS/C is a system intervention that improves individual practice for coaches, directors, teachers and other caregivers, increasing program quality for Colorado’s children and families. RS/C provides the support that is needed to retain an effective early childhood coaching workforce.