Physiotherapy

Documentation is regularly updated throughout the year, so we recommend accessing documents via this site rather than printing copies or saving elsewhere.

All educators should read the following before supporting a student as it includes all relevant information for supporting students:

• Practice Educator Handbook 2026-27 for first years only (PDF)
• Practice Educator Handbook 2026-27 for second and third years only (PDF)

For more detail about the BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy programme please refer to:

• Programme specification 2021 validation (PDF)
• Programme specification 2026 validation (PDF)

Assessment (for all main placements except Observation)

Common Placement Assessment Form (CPAF)

All information on CPAFs are available on the CSP website.

Key points to note

• Placement 1 use Level 4 CPAF version 2024; Placement 2a and 2b use Level 5 version 2024; Placement 3a and 3b use Level 6 version 2024.
• Pass mark is 40% for all UWE Bristol BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy programme placements.
• Always tick ‘Graded’ not ‘Pass/Fail’ on page one for all placements, even though some do not contribute towards the degree classification. 
• The fully completed PDF copy of the Common Placement Assessment Form (CPAF) should be emailed by the educator to the student by the last day of placement following their final appraisal. Students are required to submit the CPAF electronically via the UWE student intranet (Blackboard) by the specified deadline.
• If the student has passed the placement, no further action or verification is required by the educator. If the student has failed the placement, educators should email physioplacements@uwe.ac.uk to confirm this.
• It is advisable for both the educator and the student to save a copy for their records, Educators may be contacted to confirm marks/hours following CPAF submission by students as part of a verification process. 
• Students should be provided with a final mark for each learning domain, and an overall mark at the end of the placement, rather than grade boundaries.
• If the student has got below 40% for any of the ten Learning Domains (LDs), the overall placement mark is an average of any marks below 40% not all ten marks. This is so the overall placement is below 40% which is a fail.

First year (level 4) observation placement (three days)

• Observation placement outline (PDF)
• Observation placement workbook – acute (DOC)
• Observation placement workbook – non acute (DOC)

Self-directed learning (SDL) guidance for learners on placement

We recommend that students are given up to the equivalent of a half day per week for self-directed learning (SDL) whilst on placement. This may be given as one half-day or spread throughout the week as suits the student, educator and service.

Further details can be found in the self-directed learning guidance (PDF).

Please note: placements that are fully or partly non-clinical (for example research, leadership, project) may have significantly more SDL as part of the normal placement expectations. 

Using Generative AI (Gen AI) on placement

• Gen AI should not be used to create clinical documentation (e.g. notes) unless your placement provider has explicitly approved its use, and it complies with their trust policies.
• Gen AI can be used as a learning support tool for self-directed learning (e.g. support with generating ideas, structuring content).
• Patient identifiable information should never be entered into AI (GDPR requirements).
• Be aware of AI pitfalls e.g. accuracy, limitations, bias etc.

If a student is unable to attend their placement as planned, they should call the Absence Reporting Line on +44 (0)117 32 83283 and leave a message. The call will not be returned but the absence will be noted. Students should also contact their practice educator to advise them of absence in a manner appropriate for the particular placement.

For further support, or to report other issues whilst on placement, students should contact the confidential practice support line on +44 (0)117 32 81152 or email hscpsl@uwe.ac.uk.

Out-of-hours urgent welfare concerns

In case of an emergency where a University member of staff is required, please follow the guidance at Wellbeing and emergency support.

Practice educator training sessions

Please see the Educator training dates Sept 2026 to June 2027 (PDF) and the recommended development pathway for practice educators (PDF).

Book onto an educator training session

For all enquiries about educator training sessions please email hscpracticesupport@uwe.ac.uk.

Also see information about the Supporting Students in Practice and the Practice Learning and Student Support professional courses. These are not physiotherapy specific but may be of interest.

Practice educator virtual drop-in sessions

The sessions are for educators to access if they have any last-minute questions or need support ahead of the next placement if they are supporting students. Each session starts at 12:00 and lasts 30 minutes. No booking is required and can be accessed via the links below.

Placement	Placement start date	Drop-in session
3a	Monday 7 September 2026	Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 12:00
2a	Monday 2 November 2026	Wednesday 28 October 2026 at 12:00
3b	Monday 11 January 2027	Wednesday 6 January 2027 at 12:00
2b	Tuesday 4 May 2027	Wednesday 28 April 2027 at 12:00
1	Monday 14 June 2027	Wednesday 9 June 2027 at 12:00

Time for Dementia (TfD) programme - cohort 2023 and 2024 students

• An innovative, multi award winning educational programme designed in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society and Brighton and Sussex Medical School to create a new generation of healthcare professionals who are more aware and understanding of dementia.
• Transforming the way healthcare students learn about dementia, TfD offers an opportunity for a family (person with a diagnosis of dementia and a family member or carer) living with dementia to step into the future of healthcare education.
• It has been in operation since 2014 and is the first programme of its type to be a mandatory part of the curriculum. It is initially funded by Health Education England (now NHSE) and is incorporated into some UWE Bristol healthcare programmes, including the BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy programme in second and third years.
• Students will be visiting a family affected by dementia in pairs on six occasions over a two-year period: three visits in second year and three in third year during specified visit blocks.
• TfD lets trainee healthcare students learn directly from the real experts on dementia: those who live with it every day. The informal nature of these visits offers students a truly one-of-a-kind chance to connect with families and humanise dementia, often challenging their previous thoughts of the condition.
• The visits are a blend of informal interaction and personal connection, outside of a clinical setting, lasting 90 minutes each and spaced every three to four months. They provide an opportunity to delve into the daily realities of living with dementia.
• Students are required to submit up to three visit-related reflections per year which will be reviewed and feedback provided to develop reflective practice.
• All learning and skills gained from this programme are transferrable to other modules, placements and your future as a physiotherapist.

Students may need to take one day out of each of their placement blocks in second year (2a and 2b) or third year (3a and 3b) to complete this visit and their reflection. 

The date should be confirmed with their educator at the earliest opportunity and with due consideration to the impact on the team and service.

They can also complete the visit in the either the two weeks before or after the placement (set visit windows) if they prefer. 

Students are credited with 7.5 placement hours for this which should be included on their CPAF hours breakdown (include date and TfD visit). 

Additional information for supporting students

We strongly recommend making use of the CSP practice-based learning resources as well as the useful guidance and templates below:

• Health Education England (HEE) Guide to Practice-Based Learning (PBL) for neurodivergent students (PDF)
• UWE Bristol neurodivergence placement guidance for students
• CSP Information on Transgender equality and discrimination
• Supporting Trans and Non-Binary People SARI guidance
• Ramadan factsheet (DOC)
• Reflective practice:
  • Useful questions to prompt reflection (DOC)
  • HCPC Reflective Practice statement (2019)
• Peer review and feedback examples (optional):
  • Peer review form (DOC)
  • Student observation and appraisal sheet (DOC)

Academic year 2026/27

Placement start date	Placement
Monday 7 September to Friday 16 October 2026	Placement 3a (third year/cohort 2024)
Monday 2 November to Friday 11 December 2026	Placement 2a (second year/cohort 2025)
Monday 11 January to Friday 19 February 2027	Placement 3b (third year/cohort 2024)
Tuesday 4 May to Friday 11 June 2027	Placement 2b (second year/cohort 2025)
Tuesday 18 May to Thursday 20 May 2027	Observation days (first year/cohort 2026)
Monday 14 June to Friday 16 July 2027	Placement 1 (first year/cohort 2026)
June to July 2027 (third years)	Trailing placements (delayed or resits)
September to October 2027 (second years)	Trailing placements (delayed or resits)
November to December 2027 (first years)	Trailing placements (delayed or resits)

If you have any queries or questions about the Physiotherapy programme or require support, please contact a member of the programme team.

Programme team

Placements Coordinators ( academic staff)

Kate Stancombe, Robyn Osborne, Sarah Chipperfield

• Team email: physioplacements@uwe.ac.uk

Placements Team (Professional Practice Office)

• Email: ppoallocations@uwe.ac.uk

Programme leader

Louise Robbins

• Email: louise3.robbins@uwe.ac.uk
• Tel: +44 (0)117 32 8862