Professional development is something every early childhood setting invests in, yet it does not always lead to meaningful or lasting change. Training sessions may be delivered, feedback forms may be completed, and educators may leave feeling inspired. But the more important question is what happens afterwards: does practice change in ways that benefit children?
In this live podcast conversation and article, Dr Julian Grenier CBE reflects on what effective continuing professional development, or CPD, can look like in early childhood contexts. A central message is that high-quality professional development is not defined by a single event, but by how learning is sustained, supported and embedded over time.
Read the article here:
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/what-does-good-quality-cpd-look-like/
This episode is in partnership with BookedIn
BookedIn is a CPD booking platform that connects organisations with verified speakers, trainers and consultants – so you can find the right fit faster, based on your brief, audience and outcomes.
You can discover, compare, and manage bookings in one place – designed to help you book with more clarity and confidence.
Whether you're booking CPD or are a speaker yourself, they're opening early access soon, and if you want to be first to hear when it's live, join the waiting list today!
To find out more and sign up to the wait list visit: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/
Listen to more:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
· Using the early years pupil premium to strengthen practice and equity, with Dr Julian Grenier - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/using-the-early-years-pupil-premium-to-strengthen-practice-and-equity/
· Astrea Academy Trust Project - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/projects/astrea-academy-trust-project/?playlist=56a5917&video=17c6a45
Get in touch and share your voice:
Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/
Episode break down:
00:00 – Live podcast recording at Nursery World in London
02:10 – What does good-quality CPD look like?
03:22 – Introducing Dr Julian Grenier and the focus on effective professional development
04:00 – Moving beyond "train and pray" approaches to CPD
05:28 – Why professional development needs to be sustained over time
06:45 – Taking years, not days: embedding change in practice
08:05 – Motivation, relevance and why change is difficult
09:28 – What handwashing in healthcare teaches us about sustaining change
10:55 – Supporting educators through feedback, modelling and removing barriers
12:05 – Everyday coaching moments as professional development
13:10 – Aligning CPD with children, families and community context
14:28 – Working with external consultants and speakers
15:55 – Choosing fewer priorities and embedding them well
17:05 – Balancing inspiration with sustained change
18:05 – Building explicit knowledge of practices, not just enthusiasm
19:20 – Bridging theory, research and practice
20:15 – What evidence-informed CPD looks like in early childhood
21:18 – Evaluating CPD beyond feedback forms
22:10 – Looking for change one month, three months and one year later
23:02 – Final advice: focus on a few things and do them well
23:30 – Closing reflections and thanks
For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com
