Early Career Framework (up to April 2025)
Early Career Framework Overview FAQs
What is the Early Career Framework (ECF)?
The Early Career Framework created a step change in support for Early Career Teachers, providing a funded entitlement to a structured 2-year package of high quality professional development. The reforms are part of the government’s teacher recruitment and retention strategy, which aims to improve the training and development opportunities available to teachers. Further details on Early Career Framework are available here.
Who are the DfE accredited providers for the Early Career Framework?
Six providers have been accredited by the Department for Education who will design a programme of face-to-face and online training to early career teachers and their mentors. We have chosen to work with Teach First as our Lead Provider. You can read our due diligence and rationale for this HERE.
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Ambition Institute
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Best Practice Network
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Capita with lead academic partner the University of Birmingham
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Education Development Trust
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Teach First
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UCL Institute of Education
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Can organisations other than Teaching School Hubs act as Delivery Partners for ECF?
Yes, Lead Partners can choose to work with other organsations such as large MATS who can also deliver ‘at scale’ however, the DfE has invested in Teaching School Hubs so that they can provide an infrastructure to deliver the remit given by the DfE, including delivery of the Early Career Framework and NPQs. There is an expectation from Lead Providers that Delivery Partners will be in a position deliver ‘at scale’, Teaching School Hubs are specifically resourced for this level of delivery.
What role will Ofsted play in relation to Early Career Framework?
Providers of the Early Career Framework full induction programme will be subject to a quality assurance mechanism through Ofsted inspection to ensure the best support for schools and teachers.
| Ofsted’s interim review of teachers’ professional development in schools was recently released. Whilst it highlights some challenges, it largely shows that the Early Career Framework (ECT) and NPQs (National Professional Qualifications) represent a step forward in terms of the training and support offered to professionals. The full review is available to read here and a summary is available to read here We’re also able to share the success of Teach First’s recent ECF inspection, it has been rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas. The full report is available here. During the inspection visit over 1,500 programme members, including Early Career Teachers and Mentors took time out of their busy schedule to provide feedback via the Ofsted survey. Many also spent time meeting with the inspectors for the focused reviews. Over and above the outcome, what we’re most proud of is the impact that the ECF programme is having on supporting Early Career Teachers to thrive in the classroom. Together, we can make a real difference in helping young people achieve their potential. |
Can schools deliver their own training using DfE-accredited materials and resources?
Yes, but it has significant workload implications on schools. Schools can use freely available DfE-accredited materials. Schools taking this approach will need to ensure Early Career Teachers experience 36 hours of support in Year One and 20 hours in Year Two. Planning such a programme of Early Career support is very time consuming schools should consider the quality of this approach and associated workload for leading this. Many schools who participated in the early roll out pilot noted the extreme time intensive nature of the school-led approach, challenges include not being able to give Early Career Teachers the same breadth of experience as those working with Teaching School Hubs in the test and learn phase.
Can schools design and deliver their own early career framework-based induction?
Yes. Schools can design and deliver their own 2-year induction programme for early career teachers based on the early career framework. We would urge a school to seriously consider this approach. Schools will be expected to follow the DfE guidance around time commitment per week for training for both the Early Career Teacher and the Mentor. The materials used to support this development will need to be of an incredibly high standard. There is a relatively small timeframe between now and the national roll-out due to be launched in September 2021 to write your own 2-year induction programme and Quality Assure such a pivotal programme of development. The Early Career Framework is part of the DfE flagship recruitment and retention policy and forms part of the ‘golden thread’ of teacher development.
We would expect the development of the Early Career Framework core content and the focus on the five core areas for Early Career Teacher development to be a major focal point during an Ofsted inspection, in line with the changes made to the Education Inspection Framework (EIF). Therefore, any school planning on implementing their own Early Career Framework needs to be truly confident that its programme matches the Early Career Framework criteria, is of a high quality, is underpinned by the most relevant education research and can withstand a robust Ofsted inspection.
Appropriate Bodies for Statutory Induction will Quality Assure the programme that you are proposing for your ECTs and may make additional changes for this.
How does the funding/finance work with ECF? What are the costs to schools?
The full induction programme is fully funded for all state-schools by the DfE. If your school is a Independent Special School accredited for Section 41 Funding; you are also eligible for a DfE funded place. If you are a PVI Nursery or an Independent School not accredited for Section 41 Funding; then unfortunately the DfE will not fund an ECF place for your ECTs. Please get in touch with us if you’re at all unsure on your eligibility for funding.
Whilst the Early Career Framework is funded. The DfE does not fund the costs for ECTs to be registered with an Appropriate Body.
Do we sign up direct with Teach First or with you at Bright Futures?
You will receive an email from the DfE signposting you to an on-line portal to register your ECTs and Mentors. Here, you will register your interest to work with Teach First as the Lead Provider and Bright Futures as the Delivery Partner.
Please note: you will also need to sign up to an Appropriate Body Directly. You can access information on the Bright Futures Appropriate Body service here:
You cannot currently register with an Appropriate Body on the DfE’s service, only indicate the arrangements you have already made.
Are schools not in one of your assigned hub areas able to continue accessing your offer?
We would advise you to work with your local Teaching School Hub. However, if you prefer not to work with your local Hub, or your school is part of a MAT over a number of Hub areas, then it might make more sense to have a consistent approach for your MAT. We would be very open to a conversation about welcoming you into our Hub.
Who will communicate with us, The Hub or Teach First?
The Hub will play a critical role in communication regarding ECF live seminar delivery, ECF newsletters and programme updates. You will hear from Teach First regarding online modules and log ins.
The Hubs Appropriate Body Team will lead communications regarding Statutory Induction.
What happens to funding if an ECT leaves part way through their induction?
If an ECT leaves part way through their second year of induction, then part funding will be calculated by the DfE based on the School Workforce Census returns.
Year 1 funding is already included in the National Funding Formula so schools will continue to receive this as normal.
Schools should inform Bright Futures of any leavers so that the ECT can be withdrawn from provision.
Experts have been identified as thematic experts, will there also be wider influences shared with Early Career Teachers?
Absolutely, we will take direction and influence from a wide range of sources including school led expertise.
My question relates to Statutory Induction and not the Early Career framework, who can help?
Our Appropriate Body Team have a set of Frequently Asked Questions and Guidance available HERE.
They can also be contacted via ab-induction@bright-futures.co.uk / 0161 823 7073 (Option 3)
ECT Programme FAQs
Will Early Career Teachers (ECTs) be able to access the Early Career Framework whilst on a part-time contract?
Yes, ECTs will be able to access the ECF on either a full-time or part-time basis. Please note that accessing the ECF on a full time basis will not change the dates for an ECTs Statutory Induction which will be agreed with the Appropriate Body.
What happens if an ECT changes schools part way through their induction?
ECTs are able to move school at any time during or after their induction. It is expected that if the ECT has started on a provider-led induction then every effort will be made for them to remain on the same induction programme where appropriate.
Headteachers remain responsible for ensuring the ECT receives an induction based on the ECF. The DfE is working through the different scenarios including ECTs moving to a school with a different provider or moving from a school led option to a provider led option or vice versa. Further guidance will be available for different scenarios shortly. Guidance about serving induction in multiple settings is available in the statutory guidance.
Schools are able to transfer an ECT to their school using the DfE’s Digital Service.
I have an ECT who started their Induction prior to the reforms, but didn’t complete as an NQT. What happens to them now?
The transition period for those who commenced Statutory Induction as an NQT ends on 31st August 2023. Those who will complete their 3-term Statutory Induction by this point need to take no further action.
Those who will not complete their Statutory Induction prior to 31st August 2023 will need to be registered as an ECT from September 2023 and will need to complete 6 terms of Statutory Induction in total (including the terms already completed prior to 31st August).
The Appropriate Body will determine the time remaining for an ECT upon their registration.
They will be placed in an ECF cohort with other ECTs who have a similar length of time remaining of the Statutory Induction as this will tie in with the timetable reduction that this ECT will have as they move through the remainder of their time as an ECT.
There are a number of different scenarios for these ECTs, please do get in touch with us, with the details of an individual ECT and we will be happy to speak with you on a 1:1 basis.
We’re an SEN high school, will we have access to a range of materials from KS1, KS2 and 3?
One of the reasons we have chosen Teach First as our Lead Provider for ECF is the recognition of the need for age, phase and sector materials and expertise. Year 1 ECTs will be cohorted into a group who all working in Specialist provision. The materials used in Year 1; will be from a range of Key Stages and Subjects, however by creating a Specialist Provision cohort we hope that discussions are most focused on how these principles apply to different specialist areas. Whilst the Specialist Provision cohort in Year 1 exists; ECTs who are unable to make a particular seminar are welcome to join our mainstream EYFS, Primary, Secondary or Post 16 seminars as a seminar date swap where needed.
In Year 2; the materials become more tailored towards ECTs working in specialist provision.
The mentor programme is aimed at Mentors working with other adults, and not on specifics of classroom practice. Therefore all of our mentors will currently be in mixed groups of phases.
Mentor Training Programme FAQs
How are schools funded for the in-school mentor role?
All state funded schools offering statutory induction will receive additional funding to fund the Early Career Framework reforms. Further information is available here.
What happens if an ECT joins part way through the year and a mentor has not been trained? Is there flexibility to train mentors at various starting points in the year?
NEEDS REWRITING with new mentor principles
Can the ECF mentor be changed at any time?
It is recognised that schools may need to be flexible in who should mentor each ECT. It will be the responsibility of the headteacher/principal to identify a person to act as the ECT’s mentor, to provide regular mentoring.
A consistant mentor, who has been able to access the full programme of training in line with their ECT will offer the best experience for an ECT/Mentor pair; we encourage schools to think carefully about the mentor choice prior to making it. Any Mentor changes mid programme will need to be notified to the Teaching School Hub and to the DfE portal.
The person I’m considering for being the ECF mentor has previously completed some/all of the ECF Mentor training, do they need to do this again?
No, once mentors have fully completed the training, they won’t be invited to repeat seminars. However our team can provider refresher materials for them on requests.
If a mentor has previously undertaken part of the programme; many of our Mentors have supported an ECT who has been a maternity cover contract for a year for example, they will pick up with the programme where they left off. So if a mentor has completed the first 2 terms of the programme, they will continue from term 3 with their new ECT.
The Mentor training programme does not run in sync with the ECT’s, so even if a Mentor has 2 first year ECTs in consecutive years; the Mentor will do Year 1 of the programme, followed by Year 2, rather than repeating Year 1.
Department for Education Digital Portal FAQs
What is the DfE digital portal?
The portal is intended to be an online catalogue of the funded support available for teachers’ professional development – Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualifications are the first wave of this service.
How do I access the DfE digital portal?
The registered Induction Tutor at your school will be able to access the DfE portal. Schools were asked to nominate this person in the Spring of 2021, and have received reminders to keep this updated. The person currently registered can transfer the log in to someone else before leaving their role if needed.
If your school has not previously made a nomination, the default log in will be the email address that your school uses for DfE GIAS Communications.
If your school has lost access due to staffing changes/staff absence of the registered member of staff; schools can contact the DfE for support with transferring the account.
When is the portal launching for Autumn 2023 ECTs?
The DfE portal is expected to go live in early July 2023. The DfE will invite schools to register their ECTs and Mentors once the portal is live. This must be completed before ECT Statutory Induction begins.
A small number of schools will be invited by the DfE to register their ECTs early as part of the pilot throughout June 2023. If you have any queries relating to the pilot phase, please make contact with your DfE link colleague.
What should schools be doing on the portal in relation to the Early Career Framework?
The portal is the place where schools will register their Induction leads, Early Career Teachers and Mentors.
The DfE will check and confirm eligibility when ECTs and Mentors are inputted. If you are submitting ECTs in July 2023; please note that they may spend some time in the ‘Checking Eligibility’ Phase if the ECT has not yet started their Statutory Induction with an Appropriate Body or it yet to have QTS conferred by the Teacher Regulation Agency.
Mentors may be in the ‘Checking Eligibility’ Phase if their linked ECT is still awaiting confirmation of eligibility. We recommend that you check for any error messages that arise with either an ECT or Mentor until they move all the way through to having their status confirmed as ‘Training’
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