Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 4.1: Engage in professional development
Learning outcome: Be able to use reflective practice to contribute to own professional development
Assessment criteria: Work with others to agree own personal development plan
A Personal Development Plan (PDP) records your learning needs and goals and how you aim to achieve them.
It usually consists of a table that displays a particular area for development, how you plan to improve in this area and a timeframe within which you plan to achieve it.
For example, you may have identified a need to learn more about the different cultures of the children in your setting. Your plan to achieve this could include talking to children and parents/carers, attending a diversity workshop and conducting your own research. And you may have set a timeframe of two months to achieve this.
A PDP is a working document and should be updated regularly to add new development goals and track and record your progress.
Primarily, you will work with your supervisor to identify your areas for professional development and agree on your action plan. This often takes place as part of the supervision process.