Providing the support early career teachers need

We believe all teachers should have access to high quality professional development so that they can continue to improve at every stage of their careers. The first few years of a teacher’s career are critical, where learning opportunities, nurturing and support can make or break a career in teaching.

Developed with schools and our partner Sheffield Hallam University, our Early Career Teachers Programme, based on the Early Career Framework, provides teachers with the essential specialist support they need to improve their practice and build confidence during the two years following their Initial Teacher Training.

Brand new with funding from the Department for Education, by joining the early rollout your school will benefit from the Early Career Framework a full year before the national roll out in 2021.

Our delivery hubs

We are working with schools in the early rollout areas and in new areas across England as part of the expansion to the early rollout. 

Schools can register now and can benefit from a two-year programme in the early rollout areas and a one-year programe in the expansion areas.

Early rollout area hubs

Northern Lights Teaching School Alliance - Bradford
Yorkshire Inclusive Teaching School Alliance - Leeds
Ladywood Teaching School Alliance - Bolton
Star Academies - Bradford
St Bedes School - Durham & North East
Astrea Academy Trust - Doncaster

Expansion area hubs

Hub for the Barnsley area TBC, but schools can register now

Arthur Terry Teaching School Alliance - Birmingham
Altius Derbyshire Teaching School Alliance - Derbyshire
KYRA Teaching School Alliance - Lincolnshire
Pioneer Teaching School Alliance - Hampshire
Painsley Teaching School Alliance - Staffordshire
Redbourne Teaching School Alliance - Bedfordshire
Pickwick Learning Teaching School Alliance - Wiltshire
Derby Teaching School Alliance - Derby City
Inspiring Leaders - Nottingham 
Inspiring Leaders - Leicester
Lyons Hall Primary School (working with Sigma Trust) – Essex 
LETTA TSA - East London
Chorus Education Trust - Sheffield
Star Academies - Blackburn, Blackpool, Preston and the surrounding areas in Lancashire.

Programme details

Is my school eligible to join the early rollout?

We will be delivering this programme to schools in Manchester, Bradford and Doncaster, and across the Opportunity North East (ONE) area from September 2020 as part of the early rollout of the Early Career Framework.

Schools must be in one of these areas to be eligible to join, and expect to have at least 1 NQT starting in September 2020.

Complete this brief form to find out more and a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible. 

When does the programme begin?

You can register your interest now and the programme will begin in September 2020. The duration of the programme is two years. 

Register your interest here. 

What funding is available?

This programme - and all programmes part of the early rollout of the ECF are funded by the DfE - and the funding is the same for every programme.

Schools participating in ERO will benefit from funding for 5% off-timetable in the second year of teaching for early career teachers (in addition to the existing 10% timetable reduction in the first year), and funded time for mentors to support early career teachers in their second year of teaching.

 

Who at my school will receive training?

The programme has been specifically designed to meet the needs of early career teachers. It includes learning pathways for both NQTs and their mentors.

Schools are expected to enrol their NQTs and associated mentors onto the programme which will begin in September 2020.

What does the programme look like for ECTs?

We will provide time and space for ECTs to reflect on and challenge their own practice, centred around mentoring, face-to-face sessions and self-study activities.

Each of these activities will provide opportunities to learn from research on effective teaching practice, try out and reflect on ideas in the classroom, and plan future learning.

The programme includes:

• One-day induction event where ECTs will begin an individual Action Plan.
• Regular webinars to provide opportunities for reflection and discussion.
• Regular mentor sessions exploring content with a focus on learning, practicing and reflecting.
• Carefully timed self-study on each of the ECF concepts.
• Four face-to-face sessions with expert input from specialist organisations exploring effective classroom practice across settings, phases and specialisms.
• One-day event to kick-start year two where ECTs will reflect with their peers, as well as a celebration event to promote continued participation in professional networks and development activities.

What does the programme look like for mentors?

The mentoring programme will ensure that each mentor is confident with their knowledge of the Early Career Framework, and develops their knowledge and skills in mentoring so that the ECTs they work with get the very best from the programme. These highly skilled mentors will become the primary source of support and challenge to ECTs.

Following a 1-day induction event, the programme includes:

• 1-hour webinars to introduce and explore the focus for each half term.
• Four face-to-face sessions to develop knowledge and skills in mentoring, aligned to the Mentor Standards with input from specialist organisations.
• Regular peer-coaching sessions to discuss progress and challenges with a ‘buddy’ mentor.
• A celebration event with ECTs to promote continued participation in professional networks and development activities.

Next steps

If you are a leader from a school in Manchester, Bradford and Doncaster, or the North East (ONE area), you can now register your interest in the programme. 

We expect schools at this stage to register with their estimated number of NQTs starting in September 2020. Final numbers of NQTs and associated mentors will be confirmed at a later date.

Complete this brief form and a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible.

A focused programme for mentors

Excellent mentoring will be key to the success of the ECF initiative.

High quality mentoring is one of the most effective ways of improving teaching quality. We will work with your school-based mentors to develop a range of essential skills and knowledge that they will use throughout their careers.

The mentoring programme will ensure that each mentor is confident with their knowledge of the Early Career Framework, and develops their mentoring skills so that the ECTs they work with get the very best from the programme.

These highly skilled mentors will become the primary source of support and challenge to ECTs.

Mentors put forward by schools will benefit from regional face-to-face sessions led by expert facilitators and local peer-coaching sessions with a buddy mentor.

 

Working with schools, for schools

We are genuinely commited to working in partnership with schools to ensure all our programmes are compatible with school life – providing outstanding professional learning with the reality of a teaching timetable and school commitments in mind.

We believe all teachers should have access to high quality professional development so that they can continue to improve at every stage of their careers. 

Experts in improving teaching quality and learning on a national scale, we bring experience of running programmes across the world and extensive international evidence, and combine it with real local know-how to create programmes the really work for schools.

In 2018 we lauched the Accelerate programme for early career teachers, which was delivered to 100's of teachers. We bring this tried and tested content and approach with us into our new programme. 95% of participants rated the Accelerate programme as good or above in the first year.

 

Designed with schools and Sheffield Hallam University 

The programme is designed with schools and with our partner, Sheffield Hallam University.

Sheffield Hallam University is one of England’s largest providers of initial teacher education and is recognised for their excellence and innovation in teaching and learning. They invest in expertise and resources in a wide range of education studies.

Their work is embedded in practice and delivered by working in partnership to respond to the needs of educational employers. Everything they do is informed by broad, cutting-edge research by leading academics and expert practitioners, across many related disciplines.

 

Working to improve education across the world for more than 50 years

Education Development Trust is an international not-for-profit organisation that transforms lives around the world by improving education.

As part of our charitable mission, we invest annually in a major programme of education research which informs the projects we deliver, as well as influencing policymaking and supporting practitioners.

When you work with us, you’ll be joining thousands of teachers and other education professionals around the world who benefit from our support.