Are you ready to declare?

CPD self-declaration form now available

If you have completed your continuing professional development (CPD) for this year (2008-2009), you can let us know before the deadline approaches.

Our online self declaration form is now available in the members' area of the website and, for those using REfLECT, within the CPD Record. Members have until the 31August to declare their CPD for the 2008-09 year.

IfL will sample records of CPD from the beginning of September. You might be selected as part of the random sample. If your record is chosen, we will contact you and ask you to send us the evidence of the CPD hours you have declared. We will then review your record and offer feedback, which should be helpful to you. IfL will also prepare a report relating to members’ good practice of CPD, to be published in December 2009, which will include rich examples of effective professional development across the further education and skills sector.

Why self-declaration?

As an IfL member, you commit to actively engaging in and recording your CPD. This process of reflecting on and recording CPD is valuable in its own right and it demonstrates that you are always building relevant knowledge and skills in your subject or vocational area and in your teaching or training practice.

A wide range of formal and informal activities could count as meaningful professional development. Can you answer yes to these questions?

  • Have you undertaken professional development activities this year?
  • Have you reflected on the learning you have gained from these activities?
  • Have the activities and the reflection made a difference to how you teach or train?
  • Can you show evidence of this difference and the impact it has made on learners, colleagues or the organisation in which you work?

You should spend at least 30 hours each year (pro rata if you are a part-time teacher or trainer with a minimum of six hours a year) on professional development.

You can record your CPD in any form that suits you and your circumstances although we strongly recommend that you use REfLECT, the online personalised learning space that is one of your IfL member benefits.

Examples of CPD are:

  • reading relevant journal items or reviewing books
  • training courses or formal development or study
  • peer review, mentoring or shadowing
  • online learning discussion forums and blogs
  • viewing and reviewing television programmes, documentaries and the internet.

Click here to find out more about CPD and the self-declaration process.