ECT Entitlements

Early Career Teacher (ECT) induction is a statutory process enshrined in the education act and there are a number of key requirements which are often referred to as ECT entitlements. The following briefly summarise these features.

The key features of the ECT entitlement are:

• An induction period that is underpinned by the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) including a personalised and structured programme of support and professional development activities that takes into account previous training and experience
• A reduced teaching timetable that consists of 10% ECT time during the 1st year reducing to 5% ECT time in the 2nd year of induction (FTE for part-time ECTs) – this must be protected.
• The same amount of PPA time as other colleagues (10%) – this must also be protected.
• The support of an Induction Tutor (who must be experienced and expected to hold QTS)
• The support of a Mentor (who must also be experienced and expected to hold QTS)
• Regular formal observations with prompt feedback (not to be confused with drop-ins)
• Regular meetings (this may include a half-term review to discuss progress/objectives/targets)
• A formal assessment at the end of each induction year which if full time would mean a first assessment at the end of year 1 and a final assessment at the end of year 2 (FTE if part-time)
• Each term where a formal assessment is not due, a progress review is to be completed by your induction tutor
• If leaving post partway through induction an interim assessment is required
• The opportunity to discuss, read, sign and add your own reflection comments to the formal assessments and progress reviews at end of term/end of assessment period.

In terms of protected release time, how a reduced timetable is facilitated will vary between schools/colleges. In some cases, it will take the form of a regular weekly slot, in other schools/col­leges the time may be aggregated into blocks. This should be discussed and agreed with you by your induction tutor. We have provided some suggested uses for ECT time which must only be used for induction related activities.

For formal observations and review meetings, ideally, they will be timetabled well in advance and this is something that should be discussed with you in your first meeting with your induction tutor. Formal observations should focus on aspects of your practice, which are agreed in advance with the person carrying out the observation. These observations should be supportive and developmental, relate directly to the teacher standards (not the ECTE Programme) and be accompanied with prompt and constructive feedback. The Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) programme is not and must not be used as an assessment framework or be a basis for formal lesson observations, progress reviews or formal assessments.

What to expect…

The following is a brief overview of the key stages of induction. These stages are covered in further detail in the following sections and in the supporting document links on each page. Details regarding the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) programme and completion of ECTE modules and sequencing should be provided and discussed with you by your induction tu­tor, mentor and in line with the ECTE route/provider/delivery partner your school have chosen to work with.

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Please note: Mosaic, as referred to in the illustration above is an online induction management system used by schools for whom we are the appropriate body. They will use the system to complete your statutory induction registration, termly progress reviews and formal assessments when they are due – this must not be confused with the ECTE systems your school may use for the ECTE programme.

Once you have been registered for statutory induction you should receive a welcome email to the email address registered for you by your school containing login details and further guidance. If you do not receive this email within 3 weeks of your induction starting, please check your junk/spam – if still not received, please liaise with your Induction Tutor/Headteacher.

Next: Personalised Induction >