This change affects L-APC and A-APC candidates only. DA-APC candidates are still required to submit the Reflective Journal twice, once when they go through Gateway and once as part of their written DA-APC submission.
The Reflective Journal is a record of professional work experience completed throughout your apprenticeship (both pre-and post-Gateway). You should use it to record activities you have undertaken in the work place that have helped you to develop the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) you need to become a Chartered Town Planner. It should be completed as and when activities are undertaken.
You may update your Reflective Journal either fortnightly or monthly, or after the completion of a specific task or project. There is a danger that updating your Reflective Journal after the completion of a large task means that important sections of your work are not captured.
It can be helpful to identify specific KSBs or competencies but it isn't mandatory for each entry.
The Reflective Journal is a reflective record of your learning on the job. It is used as a supporting document for both the Professional Discussion and the DA-APC written submission. The Reflective Journal is more than a time sheet or log, it should highlight the key experiences or milestones from your work experiences.
The PES is the first section of your written submission and is an overview of your professional planning experience a bit like an extended CV where you explain your role and the nature of the work you have been undertaking. The PES sets out what relevant experience you have gained to meet the eligibility requirements.
If training events are directly related to your work as a Chartered Town Planner apprenticeship, then you could include them in your Reflective Journal.
Your Reflective Journal should not start before you began your apprenticeship. You are encouraged to start recording experience in your Reflective Journal as soon as you start your apprenticeship.
Your Reflective Journal must cover a minimum of 12 months’ pre-Gateway professional planning experience (full-time equivalent so 15 months whilst you are studying). You must continue your Reflective Journal once you have passed through Gateway to include your case studies and other relevant experience up to the month of submission, you will be required to submit it again as part of your DA-APC written submission. It is important that your Reflective Journal is recent, so you are capturing all your experience.
There is no set limit on the length of an entry and there is no word count set for your Reflective Journal. It needs to capture what you undertook and achieved.
Examples of the Reflective Journal can be found in the supplementary Reflective Journal Advice Note