The professional association of teachers of students with specific learning difficulties
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Earning CPD

Earning CPD Credit

Earning CPD credit by attending courses

At least 25% of the requirement must be met by participating in courses which require attendance for one hour or more.

"Participation" includes preparing, delivering and/or attending courses.

"Attendance" means attendance at the complete course. Part attendance does not count at all.

"Course" includes:

  • face-to-face sessions or sessions delivered by distance learning which could be part of a course, conference or seminar. These must result in reflective analysis of how content may impact on practice*
  • a course wholly provided by distance learning that involves assessment by dissertation and written examination
  • structured coaching sessions, delivered face to face, of one hour or more, which have written aims and objectives, are documented showing an outcome
  • structured mentoring sessions involving professional development, of one hour or more, delivered face to face, which have written aims and objectives, are documented showing an outcome

Earning CPD credit by undertaking other activities

The remaining 75 per cent of the CPD requirement, too, may be met by participating in activities as described above. However, it may also be met by undertaking a wide range of other activities, outlined below.

Activity Explanation / comments
1. Participation in courses
  • Preparing, delivering, and/or attending courses that are of particular relevance and benefit to an individual's area of work, and are a minimum of 60 minutes in length
  • Actual time may be claimed.
2. Coaching and mentoring sessions of less than one hour [see CPD Supplementary Guidance Notes]
  • Structured coaching sessions and structured mentoring sessions involving professional development, delivered face to face, of between 30 minutes and 60 minutes in length, and which have written aims and objectives, are documented showing an outcome
  • Actual time may be claimed.
3. Coaching and mentoring sessions delivered from a distance [see CPD Supplementary Guidance Notes]
  • Structured coaching sessions and structured mentoring sessions involving professional development, delivered from a distance (eg by telephone, e-mail or fax), of 30 minutes or more in length, and which have written aims and objectives, are documented showing an outcome
  • Actual time may be claimed.
4. Writing on assessment or practice
  • For example, articles for journals, publications for in-house guidance, newspapers, the internet.
  • Actual time may be claimed.
5. Work shadowing
  • Participation in structured work shadowing schemes with clear aims and objectives and requiring feedback or reflection on the shadowing activity.
  • Actual time may be claimed.
6. Research
  • Research that relates to SpLD assessment and practice topics or has relevance to the practice/organisation and which results in some form of written document, presentation, questionnaire/survey, etc.
  • Actual time may be claimed.
7. Reading on SpLD assessment and practice topics [see CPD Supplementary Guidance Notes]
  • Reading on topics which inform practice, e.g. test manuals, books, professional journals, articles from the internet. Reading must result in a reflective analysis of how material may impact on practice.
  • Actual time may be claimed.
8. Listening to / watching audio/visual relevant material
  • Must result in a reflective analysis of how material may impact on practice.
9. Production of a dissertation
  • Study for or production of a dissertation counting towards a qualification recognised by Patoss
  • Actual time may be claimed.
10. Distance learning courses where there is provision for the answering of enquiries or for discussion [see CPD Supplementary Guidance Notes]
  • Distance-learning courses may be delivered by correspondence, dvd, video and audio cassettes, television or radio broadcasts and computer-based learning programmes
  • Actual time may be claimed.
11. Preparation and delivery of training courses forming part of the process of SpLD assessment qualification or CPD training
  • Actual time may be claimed.
12. Participating in the development of specialist areas of SpLD assessment and practice by attending meetings of specialist committees and/or working parties of relevant professional or other competent bodies charged with such work
  • Actual time may be claimed.
13. Study towards professional qualifications
  • Evidence of successful completion of course must be provided
  • Actual time spent may be claimed.

* To count for CPD credit a Reflective Summary of learning and intended applications must be kept in your CPD log. (e.g. What have you learned? What would you change as a result? How would it impact on your practice?)

Please note
To count towards meeting CPD requirements, the activity should be at an appropriate level and contribute to an SpLD assessor's general professional skill and knowledge. [Hours exclude lunch times and breaks]

Patoss may request to see your CPD training record and portfolio of evidence at any time. You should retain your training record and portfolio of evidence on file for a period of at least six years.


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