Ireland - Evaluation of suas numeracy programme in schools

Description

Suas is currently inviting interested parties to make an offer in relation to the independent evaluation of its numeracy programme in DEIS schools in the school year 2019/20. The programme is already being implemented and Suas would like to engage its independent evaluator now so that they can support with the development of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework and tools for the programme as well as baseline and endline studies to make for a more useful final evaluation.

Summary of Programme

Suas' aim is to support children from disadvantaged settings to realise their rights and achieve their full potential through the transformative power of education. In the Irish context we focus our interventions on struggling learners in Urban DEIS schools.
Through our numeracy interventions we aim to improve schoolchildren's maths skills as well as their self-esteem and confidence to learn. Our intervention provides children who are struggling with numeracy an opportunity for repeated practice, further explanation and reinforcement, delivered in a 1-to-1 coaching session. We use the Power of 2 coaching programme in conjunction with specially designed worksheets and play materials.

Our ambition, over time, is to establish a robust numeracy intervention and generate sufficient data about its impact to be able to promote it as an evidence-based numeracy intervention and to facilitate its use in DEIS schools nationwide.

The numeracy support programme is a relatively new programme for Suas, which builds on Suas’ experience in the area of literacy support. First piloted during the 2016/17 school year, the programme responded to demand from DEIS schools for a programme for children having difficulty with numeracy based on a one-to-one intervention model (similar to our literacy support programme). basis.point, a charitable initiative of the Irish Fund industry, is the primary funder for the numeracy programme.

Purpose of Role

To conduct an external evaluation of the Suas Numeracy Programme for the period 2018-2019
In a way that:

Satisfies Suas and basis.point evaluation requirements
Is informed by a strong understanding of education and best practice
Takes a broad view and looks at the wider Programme / Organisation / Context
Raises key questions and is open and collaborative in approach
Presents a fair, credible and balanced overview and perspective
Constructively informs the strategic development of the Programme

This is so Suas has a programme evaluation and can incorporate critique, commendations and lessons learnt into the strategic development and next phase of the Programme. As well as other donors and organisations having an independent evaluation of the Project for informing strategic funding / policy decisions, with a particular focus on assessing programme design, delivery and methods of assessing and evidencing its outcomes.

Competencies required of consultant

The successful candidate should have

Essential:

- knowledge and understanding of education and the Irish context
- experience of evaluating education support programmes
- strong analytical skills and familiarity with managing for results
- strong written and communication skills
- strong interpersonal skills
- strong organisational abilities
- brings a learning orientation to evaluation
- research experience and/or qualifications

Preferable

- experience of evaluating programmes at early stages of development
- experience of strategy development
- brings an upfront approach and is unafraid to ask challenging questions.

Application

Suas would be grateful to interested parties if, when making their offers, they could respond under the following headings:

Experience: please comment on your knowledge, skills and experience relevant to this project
Approach and Methodology (including workplan/schedule): please outine your proposed approach to the project including a workplan/schedule

Costs: please provide a breakdown of the costs for this work
Any questions or comments: please share any question or works in relation to the work outlined or any thoughts on additional work that could

Please email joanne@suas.ie subject: Numeracy Programme Evaluation

Closing date for receipt of applications: Wednesday 26th June 2019.

For further information about the role and how to apply please see the Terms of Reference attached.

Opportunity closing date

26 June 2019

Value of contract

to be confirmed