Early Years Training Bundle: Benefits of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The first few years of a child’s life lay the framework for mental, social, and emotional development. As more research on childhood development is carried out, the early years industry adapts, and the fast-paced industry appears to constantly be in a cycle of change.

Last year, the Department for Education published the updated Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework. Changes to the framework were executed to improve outcomes, reduce workload such as unnecessary paperwork, and set a new standard in ensuring children learn and develop well. 

Constantly changing legislation and frameworks can provide uncertainty for early years and childcare practitioners in all settings, including nurseries, pre-schools and reception classes. Continuing Professional Development (CPD), however, can keep employees up to date and informed, whilst supporting with their professional development. 

What is CPD? 

Continuing or Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a commitment to ongoing learning. It encourages those working in specific industries, such as the early years industry, to identify opportunities to learn something new, refresh knowledge, improve skills, and keep up to date with latest developments.  

It refers to all areas of this type of learning, including but not limited to, formal face-to-face sessions, online training courses, educational events, and presentations and papers. 

The importance of CPD is well-recognised by the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, which makes ongoing CPD training a requirement. The framework states: 

“Providers must support staff to undertake appropriate training and professional development opportunities to ensure they offer quality learning and development experiences for children that continually improves”.

What are the benefits of CPD?

At Busy Bees Education and Training, we pride ourselves on our forward-thinking and ensure our training is always kept up to date, and most importantly, engaging.  

Below, our expert team have highlighted three of the main benefits to CPD, and why it’s important for any early years and childcare practitioners. 

Keep skills and knowledge up to date

In rapidly changing sectors, such as the early years industry, continuing professional development means your employees remain fully accredited and can be prepared for new challenges and adjust working practices as necessary. 

This has benefits for you too. As an employer, you can rest assured knowing that employee standards remain consistent as their knowledge is accurate and verified, with no risk of becoming outdated. 

Promote progression and increase employee engagement 

Continuous professional development ensures your employees remain passionate and engaged with their role, as they constantly feel that they are learning new things. Not only this, but by providing your workforce with CPD, employees can declare recognised qualifications on their CV, aiding them in their professional career. 

In offering your employees the opportunity to do this, they are more likely to remain loyal to your business, as you boost their own confidence, motivation and the likelihood that they feel fulfilled and happy within their role. 

It’s easier than you think 

Accredited CPD training courses are available online, meaning your employees can take a flexible approach to their development. There is no need to rush through information, which can often lead to lack of retention, but instead, employees can take the time they need to absorb the information in a way that suits them. 

This is also beneficial for you as an employer, as employee learning can be offered to a schedule that suits your industry, avoiding busy times and seasonal peaks.  

Our Affordable Early Years Training Bundle

At Busy Bees Education and Training, we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life, and we support the childcare sector in any way that we can. 

That’s why all our training courses are written by industry experts who deliver best practice guidance and training. This allows you to support staff in gaining the knowledge and skills they need, so that your setting can continue to provide outstanding care. 

Our affordable training bundle subscription offers unique reporting features, and through our Virtual Learning Academy (VLA), you can run reports on the courses your employees have completed, which can be used as evidence as part of their continuous professional development. 

Our VLA offers complete flexibility, so your employees can complete courses as and when they need to. Our courses are also optimised to work on both mobile and tablets too, so they can learn on the go and complete our courses wherever they work best. 

Some of the courses we offer in our bundle include Autism Awareness, Basic Life Support, Conflict Management, Domestic Violence, Health and Safety, Introduction to Safeguarding, Modern Day Slavery, Ofsted Inspection Framework, Policies and Procedures, Role of a Key Person, Safer Recruitment England, The Role of the DSL at Child Protection Conferences and Understanding Schemas. But that’s not all. You can view all courses included in our subscription on our Early Years Bundle page. 

You can even sample our online courses. 

How does the subscription work?

If 5 people or more from a nursery setting want to book on, each subscription would cost £15 each for the year. 

To find out more or to order this bundle, please email ann.poolton@busybees.com or call 07975 234507 today. 

We also offer child first aid courses. 

As well as our early years courses, we also offer a range of paediatric first aid training, suited to both those working with young children and parents themselves. This includes: 

• Paediatric First Aid (Face to Face) 
• Families First Aid Workshop (e-Learning) 
• Blended Paediatric First Aid 2022

To find out more about any of these courses, please call us on  01543 71150 or email us on hello@busybees.com.