How to Build Habits from Your CPD

Turning strategies into consistent routines that stick

This article will help you take what you’ve learned through SkillsBridge and embed it into your daily practice—without overloading yourself.

Start Small, Stay Consistent

Habits don’t need to be big to be powerful. Choose one strategy from your course—just one—and commit to using it consistently.

Instead of saying: “I’m going to overhaul my classroom routines,”

Try: “I’m going to greet every pupil by name at the door.”

It’s small. It’s specific. And it sets the tone for everything else.

Pair It With What You Already Do

One of the easiest ways to build a habit is to connect it to something that’s already part of your day.

Example:

• After I take the register, I’ll glance at my pupil profile sheet.

• Before I send a child out, I’ll try a de-escalation prompt from the course.

• When planning a lesson, I’ll check my cognitive load notes.

Tying the new to the familiar makes it easier to remember and repeat.

Use Visual Cues and Reminders

Post-its on your desk. A prompt at the top of your planner. A desktop background with your focus strategy. These gentle nudges help keep new habits top of mind—until they become automatic.

Downloadable tools from SkillsBridge courses (like pupil profiles, prompts, and checklists) are built for this.

Talk About It With Colleagues

Nothing helps a habit stick like sharing it. If you're trying a new approach to managing transitions, let a colleague know. Check in after a week. Celebrate when it works.

You might even start a shared group reflection in your SkillsBridge course forum: “What’s one thing you’re working on applying this week?”

Track the Change - Not Just the Habit

Don’t just ask yourself, “Am I doing it?” Ask, “Is it helping?”

Reflect on what’s working, where it’s hard, and where it’s making a difference.

Even small changes—like calmer handovers or fewer escalations—show that a habit is taking root.

You don’t need to master everything at once. One habit, done well, can ripple through your practice in ways that matter.

With SkillsBridge, you’ve already started. Now it’s about letting those new strategies become part of who you are as a practitioner.