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I am forwarding a response to this thread from a current non-member with particular insights. Jo Hi all, I was very interested to read the ongoing discussion prompted by Joy Kemp's enquiry about published literature in relation to student caseloading. As I believe Karin Gotterall indicated Bournemouth University (BU) pioneered student caseloading in 1996, and it remains a core component for all students across the pre-registration midwifery programmes. It is an innovative and creative approach to midwifery education that was recognised as an example of good practice in the Department of Health Publication Delivering the Best; Midwives Contribution to the NHS Plan (2003). Our experience and provision of student caseloading has attracted widespread interest with educationalists from within the UK and as well as Hong Kong, Denmark and Sweden visiting us to explore caseloading in relation to their own curricula. As highlighted in the online discussion relatively little literature exists around student caseloading, although anecdotal evidence suggests staff and students feel positively about the benefits of this approach to midwifery education. It may therefore be of interest that as part fulfilment of a Masters degree in Health & Social Care Education I have undertaken a qualitative study exploring student midwives experiences of caseloading at BU to develop an understanding of how it has impacted on their learning journey to becoming a midwife. Unfortunately, I have not yet published my work but this is something I aim to do soon. However, Student caseloading at BU was the subject of an invited conference workshop and this is reported in MIDIRS Midwifery Digest (Rawnson S, Fry J, Buxton C, Woolfenden E (2005) Looking towards the future: but starting now! [Workshop report] MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, Vol 15, Supplement 2 : S19-21). Regards Stella Rawnson ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karen Murray" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 9:25 PM Subject: Re: Student Caseloading We have been running a student caseload system since we commenced our 3 year midwifery programme. It was again based on the Bournemouth model. The unique element of the scheme is that the students are gaining experience of a way of working that is currently not widely available through maternity services. My colleague is currently evaluating the experiences of the scheme and is presenting a paper at the ICM conference in June. Karen Murray Head of Unit Pre-registration Midwifery Queens University Belfast