Work matters: International study programme - Take a trip

Understanding ourselves better and making improvements by studying others' is the slogan used by the Teachers International Professional Development (TIPD) programme, to convey the value of the overseas study visits it runs for teachers and practitioners.

The programme currently provides 2,500 places a year, which are allocated by local authorities. Teams of professionals are invited to bid for a place on the programme, based on their own research and with a destination in mind.

Back in 2004 a group of like-minded professionals in Hungerford, Berkshire, decided that a trip to Norway could refresh ideas on how oracy links to outdoor learning. Nicola Eggbeer, assistant head of the Hungerford Nursery School, and two of her fellow nursery nurses were the first to visit the coastal town of Haugersund in 2004. Since then other teams in the area have made the trip, and these visits are continuing to stimulate outdoor practice.

'There were ten people in the initial group and they were a combination of nursery nurses, teachers and learning support assistants,' says Mrs Eggbeer. 'We split up into smaller groups to visit different kindergartens and schools, and also chatted with local early years experts who had particular specialisms. In the evening everyone got together and discussed what they had experienced.'

The visit set in motion a continuing process of change in Hungerford. 'At the time it was quite a revelation to see how children benefited from freedom and time. They faced physical challenges like climbing trees, using rope swings and whittling wood. Dinner was cooked on a camp fire.'

As the visit dovetailed with a new build for the nursery, new ideas were able to influence how the outdoor area was designed, with more challenging and stimulating equipment installed.

'We also now have an area of private woodland where we take groups of children for a whole day each week,' says Mrs Eggbeer. 'The children collect natural objects, climb trees and observe nature, developing their physical knowledge and understanding of the world. They are always excited about going there and have lots of fun.'

The visit has also had the knock-on effect of providing training opportunities for many practitioners in the local area. 'We took photographs and made videos while on the trip and these, together with our notes, have formed the basis for training presentations which we have delivered to other professionals and school governors,' says Mrs Eggbeer.

She adds that the ten professionals who got together to make the original trip have remained steadfastly in touch. 'We are supportive to each other and continue to profit from our different perspectives and experiences. We all still value the knowledge and confidence that our trip to Norway provided, and are keen to pass that on to others.'

Needs and objectives

The TIPD programme was launched in May 2000 and is delivered by four providers: the British Council, the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers, the Best Practice Network and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. Each local authority in England has its own allocation of places.

According to the TIPD guidance, it is important to ensure that participants know exactly why they are undertaking the development activity and what they expect to learn from it. Participants will be expected to demonstrate good planning prior to a successful application. This will involve:

- the setting of clear aims, objectives and proposed outcomes

- plans to implement what they have learned after the visit

- the evaluation process that they plan to use to measure the impact of what they have implemented

- the mechanisms that they are intending to use to ensure that best practice is disseminated more widely.

A list of priority themes will form the main focus of international activities in the programme, although this will not prevent other themes from being considered. The DCSF says applications will be considered and agreed on the basis of identified development needs and objectives and anticipated outcomes.

Further information:

- www.teachernet.gov.uk/TIPD.