All settings that receive funding for Early Education are expected to support the professional development of staff.  There is an expectation that all practitioners will have access to training and professional development to help them deliver the foundation stage curriculum at a high standard.  This training and development activity may include:

• Attendance on training courses provided by Wakefield District Sure Start Partnership or by other providers of early education training
• In-house training delivered in-house by a facilitator from the Early Education Team
• In-house training led by a key practitioner working in the setting
• Planned discussion on an aspect of curriculum development
• Visits to other settings to share good practice
• Visits from Advisory Teachers to support the setting

We continue to stress the importance of keeping careful records of the training opportunities provided for practitioners.  We would strongly advise managers of settings to monitor the training needs of their practitioners, the training attended and the likely impact of training on the quality of learning and teaching in the setting.  We would also recommend that practitioners themselves keep a professional development portfolio with evidence of training completed with notes on the changes in practice they have implemented.

Please contact us for further information.