File name:	JiOB_A002IdCPDNeeds.mov
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Identifying staff development needs is a critical first step before planning a programme of CPD. Such needs may be personal and/ or professional. Potentially a large list of such needs may be identified or generated and inevitably they will need to be prioritised in some way. Available resources and money in particular may allow some prioritisation, but importantly a balance has to be achieved between personal individual needs and needs associated with the school and its development. I would stress the need for balance here as both sets of need have legitimacy but where school funding is being utilised the emphasis may be on organisational needs. Many teachers pursue individual development needs without specific school support and I believe schools ought to do more to at least recognise the commitment of individuals to enhancing their capacities as teachers.

Needs can be identified by a variety of approaches. Teacher self-evaluation has an important role to play but so too may formal appraisal of teachers. The school's management might identify needs as part of normal management monitoring of policies and approaches; the school may have been inspected and a number of priorities for development identified in this way; or a new curriculum or approach may have been introduced by the government or authorities and there has to be preparation for this.