Early Career Teachers: What to Expect From Your ECT Induction

Update December 2024 – we’ve checked through the below and brought it up to date a little. Best of luck to anyone sitting their ECT induction!

Once you have finished your Initial Teacher Training and gained QTS, what can you expect from your Early Career Teacher (ECT) induction? The changes to teacher induction in England only came into force in 2021, so there is still some confusion about what to expect and what the induction period looks like. This helpful guide will help to demystify the ECT induction process and includes some links to to further sources of information if you would like to know more. 

What is the ECT induction?

The ECT induction is a two-year, government-funded and research-based training programme, following on from Initial Teacher Training to ensure that you are fully prepared for your career in teaching. It is based on the Early Career Framework (ECF), which is a document that outlines the essential skills and knowledge for new teachers. The Framework was developed by the Department for Education, reviewed by the widely respected Education Endowment Foundation and is endorsed by important teaching bodies, such as the Chartered College of Teaching. The ECF is designed to directly follow on from the Core Content Framework which was the basis for your teacher training, whether that was school-based training or another post-graduate programme, such as a PGCE.

Who needs to complete an ECT induction?

It is a legal requirement for any teacher who has QTS and teaches in a state maintained school in England to complete a six-term induction period in a school which is approved to provide the programme. This will usually be over two academic years and most maintained state schools will be approved as providers, with a few exceptions, such as schools placed in special measures by Ofsted. The DfE guidance refers to these as ‘relevant schools’, so we will too from here on. If you wish to teach in an academy, a free school, in FE or the independent sector, ECT induction is not statutory, though it may still be offered. 

How long do I have to complete my ECT induction?

If you ever want to teach in a state school, you should try to complete the induction terms as soon as you can. You are permitted to undertake short-term supply work (anything less than one academic term) in relevant schools before or while completing the ECT induction part-time, but this is only for a maximum of five years from the date of your QTS award and will not count towards your induction. Once this five year period is over, you cannot extend it and will no longer be able to undertake any work in relevant schools. If you are doing a supply job in a relevant school which is longer than a term, they must provide induction training which will count towards your six induction terms.

What support will I get during my ECT induction?

You will be entitled to an approved and structured programme of training which is based on the ECF. You will be assigned a mentor to oversee your training and to meet with you regularly for coaching and support. In the first ECT year, you will be given a 10% reduced teaching timetable to enable you to carry out the training tasks and meet with your mentor, who should also have release time. This is reduced to 5% in the second ECT year. This ECT time is in addition to your 10% Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time. 

How will I be assessed for the ECT induction?

A separate induction tutor will informally assess your progress each term, though if the school is quite small, the mentor and induction tutor may be the same person. There will be two formal assessment points at the end of each academic year. Assessment will be based on the Teaching Standards, not the ECF – the ECF is not an assessment tool and should not be used as one. There is no requirement for you to keep any evidence beyond the paperwork that you are required to keep as part of your role, such as your planning. Assessment should be based on your work and on your discussion with your induction tutor. It is important to note that all of the coaching and support should give you a very clear idea of how you are doing every step of the way, so there should be absolutely no surprises about the outcome of your assessment. 

Can I complete my ECT induction at more than one school?

The short answer is, yes, you can complete the six terms in more than one school. For consistency, it would be advisable to try and seek a school which will commit to you for the two year period. This is because there are different programmes running in different schools due to the number of DfE approved training providers. All will be based on the ECF, but may be structured differently.

What happens if I fail my ECT induction?

You only have one chance to pass your ECT induction and anyone who fails will not be permitted to retake it or work in a relevant school. Anyone failing will be dismissed from their post. You will not lose your QTS, so may still teach in schools which do not require induction, such as independent schools or academies. However, the programme is designed to be supportive and developmental, so if it is not going well, you should be able to seek support from your induction tutor or with the lead provider, which is usually the Local Authority.

Further references for teachers sitting their ECT induction:

Support for Early Career Teachers

The Early Career Framework

Induction for Early Career Teachers