Early professional development (EPD) is the phase of your continuing professional development (CPD) that you undertake in the early years of your career.
CPD consists of reflective activities that are designed to improve an individual’s professional attributes, knowledge, understanding and skills. It supports individual needs and improves professional practice.
All teachers experience performance management for the first time after their induction period. Performance management is a process of continuous review and improvement through professional development.
As a teacher in the early years of your career, you have specific development needs that may differ from the needs of more experienced teachers, and you may take on new responsibilities for the first time. The guidance in this section will help you build on the objectives set and professional development you experienced during your induction period.
TDA research shows that the priority areas of development for many teachers in their second and third years include:
- ensuring their first experience of performance management builds consistently upon their induction
- preparing to take on additional responsibilities
- expanding their subject knowledge and pedagogy, and
- developing their behaviour management skills.
You may have different priorities to those listed here, but this guidance will help you identify and plan your development needs, review your professional development and build your confidence and skills. This will be crucial to you in your career after induction.
