British Paediatric Neurology Association
Paediatric Neurology Distance Learning Course

Introduction

The BPNA distance learning programme has been developed under the direction of Professor Debbie Murdoch-Eaton, Professor of Medical Education at Leeds University in the United Kingdom. The course is constantly updated, offering a comprehensive theoretical background in paediatric neurology for trainees and an opportunity for established consultants to update themselves on a particular topic as part of their Continuing Professional Development.

The entire course is now open to paediatric neurology trainees worldwide.

Individual units will be available from spring 2010 for established consultants. Further information about the availability of individual units will be made available here in due course. (The cost of individual units will be £295 each and £395 for Unit 6).

Course Details:

The course has been designed as a teaching package to complement the clinical training provided by training centres. The course is divided into 12 units, each involving 48 hours study. You should aim to complete the course in 2-4 years, depending on your other commitments and ensuring you maintain a balance between momentum and enjoyment. The units are as follows:

1. Introductory Unit
2. Embryology, disorders of neuro-embryogenesis, hydrocephalus and neonatal neurology
3. Normal and abnormal development and learning
4. Central motor deficits; congenital and acquired spinal cord disorders
5. Development and function of the peripheral nervous system and neuromuscular disorders
6. Membranes, channels, epilepsy and paroxysmal disorders (96 hours work)
7. Cerebrovascular disease, trauma and coma
8. Inflammation and infection of the nervous system
9. Metabolic, nutritional and systemic disease
10. Vision, hearing and their disorders
11. Oncology
12. Psychological development, psychiatric disorders, communication, learning disability and service networks

Delivery:

The course is delivered via the web. You are provided with a username and password to the website when you are accepted onto the course. A new unit is opened for you every two months, allowing you to download and print out each unit so that you can work on a hard copy. We would hope that you would work through it at a rate that is right for you, maintaining a balance between momentum and enjoyment. Therefore, students will complete the course at differing rates depending on their personal circumstances however you should aim to complete the whole course in 2-4 years. Discuss and plan the time you wish to complete the course with your Educational Supervisor. You will probably have a better idea about this when you have started the course.

Requirements for entry onto the course:

1. Regular access to paediatric neurology clinics. The distance learning course is designed as a teaching package to complement the clinical training. The course relies on you seeing adequate clinical material, indeed many of the activities you will be asked to complete involve reflecting on and reviewing cases you have seen and using experience gained in clinics. For most students this would mean being an SpR on a neurology service.
   
2. Have an Educational Supervisor. Ongoing support is through your Educational Supervisor, who will be a Consultant Paediatric Neurologist. He/she will meet up with you regularly to discuss the Unit you are working on and your progress. Some of the activities you are asked to undertake specifically ask you to discuss aspects of cases etc with your Supervisor. At the end of each Unit there is an appraisal form for your Supervisor to sign confirming that you have completed the Unit satisfactorily. It is up to you to identify a local Supervisor before making your application. There is more information specifically for Supervisors available at www.bpna.org.uk/DL/infoedsup.pdf
   
3. Funding. Many distance learning students have all or part of the course costs met by their hospital Trust.

Cost:

The cost of the course varies according the country in which you are currently employed and according to World Bank classifications:

Payments are made in four instalments over a 2 year period. You will be sent an invoice for the first instalment when you are accepted onto the course. Payment may be made monthly by direct debit for those with UK bank accounts. Payment for the first instalment must be received before access to the course is made available.

To Apply:

If you are a UK trainee: one cohort of UK students is accepted onto the course, commencing January each year. They are required to attend a half-day introductory meeting, which is held immediately prior to the BPNA annual conference (details of this will be sent to you when your application is accepted). The deadline for applications is 31 October and we will notify you if your application has been successful by the end of November.

Please download and read the UK Pre application information for students and Information for Educational Supervisors before completing the application form and returning it to diane@bpna.org.uk.

If you are working outside the UK: We are keen that you are fully supported in your studies and would like you to have the support of the paediatric neurology Association in your country before you begin the course.  We would advise you to contact your Association as a link may already have been established.  

Overseas students are accepted throughout the year to start the course on 1 March, 1 June, 1 September or 1 December. An online introduction for overseas educational supervisors is available - access to this may be requested at any time, please email diane@bpna.org.uk.

Please download and read the Overseas pre application information and Information for Educational Supervisors before completing the overseas application form and returning it to diane@bpna.org.uk. You will be notified by email if your application has been successful.

Further information

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Philippa Rodie by email at info@bpna.org.uk or by telephone +44 (0)1204 492888.

Last updated 26-feb-10