[Laura3011]

Reflective practice is the term used to describe thinking about the work that you do and have done. Reflective practice requires us to look back at our own practice, question whether it was done correctly or not and evaluate how we can make improvements to our own practice as well as our colleagues within the setting.



Reflective practice is vital because it allows us to monitor our own practice as well as the practice of our colleagues. It also enables us to evaluate whether our practice is good enough or requires improvement. It gives us The opportunity to review our practice and try out new ideas we may have. It improves our professional behaviour and allows us to learn from and observe the children. It also gives us the opportunity to communicate with our colleagues and learn from their skills.



The majority of theorists have ideas of reflection which are based on clinical models. These models encourage the process of continuing reflection. Some of these theorists include, Gibbs, kolb, Johns and Schon.
The Gibbs cycle of reflection was developed from the David Kolbs experimental learning cycle in 1988. The kolbs model is based on learning through experience. The Gibbs model is based on learning through interaction and believes that learning is best done through repetition. This reflective process is carried out over six steps in which each step informs the next. Number one is description then feelings, what did you feel/think? The third is evaluation, what do you feel was good/bad about it? The fourth is analysis, what do you make of the situation? The fifth is conclusion, what more could you have done. Finally the sixth is action plan if it was to happen again what would you do?



The David kolb's experimental learning cycle was founded in 1984 and this theory involves the idea that the development of new concepts is given by providing new experiences. This is a four stage learning cycle theory which believes firstly that the learner needs to have/do and experience. Next they need To reflect on what happened during the experience. They then need to conclude what happened during the experience. Finally they need to learn from it and then try out what they have learnt from it.



Christopher Johns believed in a five stage model which he created in 2000. His model believes that following his five stages you are then able to break down your experience then reflect upon it. This model enables the reflector to see how the experience has enabled them to improve their practice and change the way they work. Firstly at the beginning of the stage you need to describe the experience. Next you need to reflect upon it and consider what you were trying to achieve and what would the consequences of this. You then need to identify Influencing factors that influenced your decision making. You then need to decide if you could have dealt with the situation differently and could you have have made better choices than the ones you have made. Finally you then need to think about what things will change because of this experience and how has it changed you personally and professionally now you have this knowledge and awareness?


Donald schon believed in the process of continuous learning and he developed his theory in 1995. He believed that in order to reflect we needed to engage in continuous learning, as a major part of our professional practice. He had two separate processes of reflection in his theory. The first was reflecting in action which is thinking as you're doing what you do. How well you were doing it and how good you are with certain tasks. Next is reflecting on action. This is thinking after you have done what you have done and when you have completed something evaluating what went well or how could you have done things differently to improve it for the next time.