Protected Learning Hour – Information for Placements

As part of their practice learning experience, all students are expected to complete a ‘Protected Learning hour’ once a week. The Protected Learning Hour is a space for all students to identify a learning opportunity during their practice education time and to explore it. Once an opportunity has been identified, each student should create a learning plan in partnership with their practice supervisor or assessor and then use the Protected Learning Hour to meet this.

This hour may be away from the practice learning setting to allow quiet time to study and research the subject, but this time must be taken during the allocated practice learning hours, not in addition to these.

Students may use the library or local computers to complete their Protected Learning Hour, but they must remain on site.

It is not permitted for students to start their placement late or finish early to complete the Protected Learning Hour at home.

The Protected Learning Hour provides students with an opportunity to contribute to the demonstration of their practice proficiencies and for the Practice Supervisor or Assessor to identify clearly where additional evidence is required to support achievement of their proficiencies.

The Protected Learning hour must be recorded in the ePAD, and any research completed should be retained and uploaded to the ePAD.  The Protected Learning Hour reinforces the student’s supernumerary status and supports the in-depth application of evidence to practice. 

Please ensure that all hours are logged and evidence is uploaded to the EPAD under the Protected Learning Time section