This paper explores the work of professional learning and development (PLD) facilitators working in New Zealand schools on Ministry of Education contracts. It describes what PLD facilitation work is, and examines how well facilitators are prepared for the job they are doing. The second part of the paper looks at the impact of recent and changing requirements on facilitators and considers how the job may need to continue to change to meet the needs of teachers and students in the future.
NZCER is one of five members of the Te Toi Tupu PLD consortium and the authors have undertaken this work as "participant observers", both inside and outside Te Toi Tupu.