Guidance to support early career teachers (ECTs), their headteachers and mentors.
For the academic year 2023/2024 we will continue to provide an appropriate body service for schools and academies to oversee ECT induction, which remains a statutory duty for those remaining with the local authority.
Unfortunately, we cannot take on new ECT registrations from September 2023.
From 1 September 2023, only teaching school hubs and other organisations determined by the Secretary of State will be listed as being able to act as appropriate bodies. (pg7)
Further guidance for schools on the induction of Early Career Teachers is available on the GOV.UK website.
For schools currently registered with Derbyshire appropriate body (AB);
Our team offers a wide range of expertise and experience in ensuring that headteachers and governing bodies are aware of, and are meeting, their responsibilities with regard to monitoring, support and assessment and that the school’s monitoring, support, assessment and guidance procedures are fair and appropriate and are embedded in good practice.
We have an experienced and dedicated ECT induction team comprised of a Teaching, Learning and Assessment Consultant who co-ordinates ECT induction training in primary schools and secondary schools and a Senior Adviser for School Improvement who has oversight and leadership of all induction processes. We also have support from a Business Services team to manage the administrative process and assist with queries.
The induction team have a wide range of expertise and experience in ensuring that, in accordance with statutory guidance:
- Headteachers and governing bodies are aware of, and are meeting, their responsibilities with regard to monitoring, support and assessment. This includes checking that the ECT is receiving a personalised induction programme, has a named induction tutor/mentor and has a reduced timetable.
- The school’s monitoring, support, assessment and guidance procedures are fair and appropriate and are embedded in good practice.
In order to fulfil our role effectively we ensure high quality support for ECT induction by:
- Maintaining an up-to-date record of ECTs and submit required information to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) on behalf of schools, academies and ECTs.
- Quality assuring submitted summary of induction programmes and formal assessments as well as maintaining knowledge of ECTs who are ‘on track’ throughout the two-year induction.
- Undertaking quality assurance visits to schools where there is an ECT deemed to be “at risk” of not meeting the Teaching Standards or a concern is raised.
- Providing support for induction tutors/mentors.
- Hosting training events for ECTs and Tutors at the start of the academic year (at no additional cost).
- Providing handbooks for ECTs and Tutors detailing expectations throughout the ECT induction period including templates for assessment meetings, support plans and observations.
- Providing access to ECT manager for assessments plus Derbyshire County Council business services support for technical issues. Derbyshire - ECT Paperless Induction and Assessment Management System
- Providing a bespoke programme of conferences, courses and workshops.
- Providing advice and guidance to schools, academies and ECTs, as required.
- Facilitating network meetings for ECTs.
- Determining reductions and extensions to induction, in agreement with headteachers, principals and ECTs.
- Liaising with union representatives, as appropriate.
- Maintaining our membership of the East Midlands Appropriate Body service.
We will continue to provide an appropriate body service for schools and academies currently registered to oversee ECT induction, which remains a statutory duty.
Contact Us
ECT Induction Team