Sheffield Institute of Education was funded by the Education and Training Foundation to develop and deliver a programme of professional development for staff in the FE and skills sector who are engaged in initial teacher education.

The programme included workshops, online activities and discussions of key themes including:

• From teacher to teacher educator
• Developing observation skills
• Working with mentors
• Developing an ITE curriculum
• Developing English and maths within the ITE curriculum
• Using technology to enhance learning
• Making feedback and feedforward effective
• Safeguarding within ITE
• Reflection for action
• Becoming a practitioner researcher.

Participants in three cohorts of the programme represented the full range of FE sector organisations and had a spread of expertise and experience in initial teacher education. As well as developing particular areas of practice, they were enthusiastic about joining a community of practitioners which included university staff. All participants gave highly positive feedback about the programme, saying, for example:

"Thoroughly enjoyed the programme and feel I learnt so much, even though I have been in FE for over 20 years."

"It’s the most worthwhile CPD I think I’ve possibly ever done. I look at some of my colleagues in the classroom and I think, ‘Oh my goodness. You so need to have done what we’ve just done’."