1. Unit 9 professional development
Sam Emsley

2. 1.1. Explain the term ‘professional development’.
Learning through continuous professional development is how an individual can improve their skills, knowledge and competence and improve the analysis, problem-solving and evaluation skills essential as a professional early years educator.
This must be on going and reflective to assists greatly with your own personal and professional development for your career, but also for the organisation in terms of the professional and commercial benefits of more experienced staff.

3. CPD
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. You track and document the skills, knowledge and experience that you gain both formally and informally as you work, beyond any initial training.
It's a record of what you experience, learn and then apply. The term is generally used to mean a physical folder or portfolio documenting your development as a professional. Some organisations use it to mean a training or development plan.

4. 1.2. Identify professional development opportunities.
learning from colleagues or shared learning from networking
reading about new methods of working and legislative changes
shadowing or assisting an experienced colleague
reflections, insights and learning points from taking on a new responsibility, coaching and mentoring
temporary job swaps within the department/organisation
deputising or covering for colleagues
insights and lessons learned from mistakes
lessons learned from critical incidents or events

5. Identify my own professional development needs Unit 9 2.2
This is about YOUR development.
What do you need to improve your practice?
Is there a culture, religion or disability that you need to know?
Which other courses would be beneficial to your career?