The letters we've all heard about......CPD

Whether compulsory or not, in my opinion CPD should include a whole range of activities which contribute to your learning and which help you to develop both personally and as a business. So what is a priority for you at the moment?

When I started to take CPD seriously what I wanted to do was widen my market and improve the training I offer to my pupils. What has happened is that I have become a specialist in the field of teaching and assessing people with disabilities; so my priorities have changed to improving my specialist knowledge while maintaining flexiblity in my buisness.

My personal experience is that each bit of training I've done has lead to opportunites being offered, taking those has lead to more training. Having said that I can't say I'm earning more but I like my work

Informal training has been less useful, I attended presentation coures at Driving Services and at Drivetech, these were only recognised within their companies. I was on the MSA greater london commitee for a number of years. I thought that time spent with instructor trainers would be very useful, it was but there is no formal evidence fo learning.

I've seen that you have taken a broader route and qualified yourself up rather than along, improving your earning power. What has been your experience and what are your priorities Lin?

Sorry, not ignoring you Chris .... Been with Mum in hospital and not a mo to think! Will get back to you asap!

Apologies for taking soooooooooooo long to reply! Mum had a major stroke and heart attack on Wednesday afternoon,and died this morning! Not the best week in an already stormy

I have a bit of an OCD approach to CPD

For CPD to be effective, imo it is important to have a structured plan. My plans are subject to continual review in the light of changing circumstances!! I write them down as this helps me to commit to my goals!

I started with being the best ADI I could be as a 5 year plan! Thought about the business, driving and instructional skills I wanted and found courses to help me reach my aim: Customer Care, instructional techniques, DIA Advanced and RoSPA Gold. A couple of smashing Check Tests proved I was on the right track! Further business skills training enabled me to become independant and start running the franchise.

AA started running Instructor Training courses and I was lucky enough to get in at the start. This was probably my most challenging step. I took DIA Special Test training to ensure I passed the driving assessment and a huge amount of Trainer Training to pass and exceed the requirements of the in-house course and to ultimately pass the ORDIT individual and premises inspections. Not sure Ive finished this bit yet, but it has enabled me to earn more bucks/hour and have a wider scope of instruction. Im not good with too much repertition!

Then I did a fleet course. I re-did RoSPA as a prep for the driving assessment, and the previous coaching and instructional technique work I did made the Pt3 assessment relitively easy. Basic Fleet work with other companies doesnt pay very well but if you can get your own it can be lucrative!

Currently Im working on more Instructional Skills work. Id like to do the Diploma, but am stuck for motivation atm. I think it's because I havent defined my aim as yet!

There was probably an easier way of outlining this.....

I dont think CPD has been introduced for the likes of you two. You would both do CPD whether it was complusory or not..... just as I would (although may be not to your degree !!!)

I think CPD has been introduced because far too many ADIs are set in their ways & dont keep up with changes & the only way to make them do it is to make it mandatory. 7 hours a years isnt too much to ask for really when so much is considered as CPD. Its what most other 'professions' do & its right that we do too if we want to be taken seriously as a profession & not just a job !!

CPD is just addictive, you start one thing and become aware of another.
BTW Lin. Hows this for Motivation to take the Diploma.

Lynne Barrie came to the driving instructor industry 15 years ago after many successful years as a secondary school teacher. Of 46,000 driving instructors, Lynne is one of a handful that have gained a Masters Degree in Driver Training from Middlesex University. She is currently the only working female ADI to hold this qualification.

Are you happy with that?

This is a CPD link

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Thanks for that link Chris I haven't come across this before ..... it's almost 10 years old and yet the findings would be much the same today, I feel. Kinda shocking that so little has changed when you see the evidence!!!