What is CPD in early years?

CPD stands for continuing professional development. It refers to learning activities that you undertake in order to grow and develop in your profession. This can involve learning a new skill, improving on an existing skill, or refreshing/updating your knowledge in a particular area.

CPD is not a box-ticking exercise to demonstrate that you’ve completed certain training or achieved certain qualifications. It’s a commitment to ongoing learning and a continuous process which can never truly be ‘completed’. There is always something new to learn – especially in the fast-changing world of early years.

Why is CPD important for nursery managers?

As a nursery manager, CPD comes with a multitude of benefits. For a start, it allows you to keep up-to-date with new changes (e.g. regulatory changes) in the sector, ensuring that your early years setting is compliant and prepared for inspection.

It also enables you to stay informed about new research, approaches and systems – which in turn will help you to come up with fresh ideas and optimise the way you run your nursery. Through CPD, you can equip yourself with the knowledge and skills you need to tackle current and future challenges.

What’s more, CPD can help you to enhance your leadership skills and become a better manager. This will have an impact on your staff, improving their wellbeing and boosting retention as a result.

And CPD isn’t just for you to undertake as the nursery manager; it’s equally important for all nursery staff. Focused CPD can help you to address any skills gaps that exist within your setting. When your staff are provided with learning opportunities and encouraged to progress through CPD, they should ultimately feel more engaged, motivated and fulfilled in their roles.

At Nursery Managers Show, we offer a programme of free CPD for nursery managers. Past events have included expert-led sessions on confident leadership, having difficult conversations, safeguarding, neuroinclusion and more.

What are some examples of CPD in early years?

CPD can range from formal training to more casual activities, e.g. reading a relevant book or listening to a podcast. Almost anything that keeps you informed about the sector and helps you improve the way you do your job can be considered CPD.

Examples of continuing professional development (CPD) in early years include:

• Courses, either in-person or online
• Training sessions and workshops
• Conferences and other relevant events
• Webinars
• Podcasts
• Books
• Articles and blogs
• Newsletters
• One-to-one coaching/mentoring
• Discussions with colleagues

What is a CPD log?

To keep track of your CPD, you might find it useful to keep of log of your activities. Get a diary/notepad, or start a document, dedicated to your CPD. Every time you do something that contributes towards CPD, make a note of:

• The date
• The type of CPD: course, webinar, website, etc
• The topic: leadership, new regulations, etc
• What you learned from it
• Any actions you plan to take as a result

Keeping a log will help you to remember key learning points and reflect on them in the future.

What does the EYFS say about CPD?

The EYFS Statutory Framework doesn’t set out specific activities that are required for CPD – beyond some basic training requirements – but it does recognise the importance of CPD for early years professionals.

It states that: “Providers must support staff to undertake appropriate training and professional development opportunities to ensure they offer quality learning and development experiences for children that continually improves.”

Ofsted inspects in line with the requirements of the EYFS. In this blog from PACEY, a representative of Ofsted says that: “When we inspect, we always talk to nursery staff and childminders about CPD. We want to hear about the development you’ve decided to do and why, and the impact it’s had on children’s learning.”

 

More: Nursery Managers Guide – How to Prepare for Ofsted