How to write a report ?

Question

Im currently studying a Management in Childcare course (Level 5), I need to write a report on changes I have made within my setting.
Can anyone offer help / advice on how to set it out? Or send me a useful link..
Much appreciated.

Answer 1

Although I know nothing about childcare I have written one or two reports.

Here are some ideas on how you might structure your report
1. Introduction - How you chose the "setting" in which you operate ie what attracted you to this particular place? Was it for example that you saw that you could make some positive changes?
2. What initial observations did you make ( about how things were done) when you first joined and did you change your mind once you had been there for a while?
3.Which things did you identify which needed to be changed and why did you think that?
4. How did you select the things which you ultimately changed and why did you reject the rest?
5. How did you set about making the changes - who did you involve, how did you convince others the changes needed to be made, what had to be done, how hard was it what were the costs and timescales?
6. What was the outcome of having made the changes - were they successful, did others beleve they were worth doing
7. Do you think you chose to change the right things? would you do the same thing again?If not how might you do it differently?
8. Looking back on the changes made - after a 3 month period are they still working?

This is just my idea and might get you started

I always think of Rudyard Kiplings 6 honest serving men when I write a report.

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.

If you can answer all these questions you have succeeded

Good Luck

Answer 2

have you tried setting it out the old fashioned way.
1. Introduction : a brief synopsis of the report and aims.
2. Method / actions : having looked at the problem how did you conduct yourself and or alter working methods to change / effect the problem.
3. Results : after taking the actions how did they resolve issues, or did they create more questions.
4. Conclusion : a brief description of benefits and drawbacks highlighted as a result of the actions you have taken and a personal comment on how things could be improved.

I find the old way of report writing makes you think more clearly and allows easier re-editing