Space for early career teachers to learn, practice & reflect

Early career teachers need time and space to reflect on and challenge their own practice. This Programme is centred around developing the mentor relationship, and includes a carefully constructed programme of webinars, face-to-face training, and self-study activities which support this.

Each of these activities will provide opportunities to learn the theory, put the theory into practice, and reflect on personal and professional development with the support of their mentor. 

View programme schedule for ECTs

Excellent mentoring is key to the success of an early career teacher

The relationship between an ECT and their mentor is critical to driving improvements in classroom practice. It rests on creating the right conditions to establish a constructive professional relationship, with optimal levels of support and challenge. 

We will work with in-school mentors to learn new mentoring and coaching techniques, enabling them to strengthen essential skills that they can use throughout their careers.

Specialist training and support will ensure each mentor is confident in 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.

Mentors put forward by schools will benefit from a comprehensive programme of development that includes regional training sessions led by expert facilitators, and local peer-coaching sessions with a 'buddy' mentor.

View programme schedule for mentors

A high-quality, blended learning experience 

Developed with schools, our Early Career Framework materials provide a high-quality, evidence-informed blended learning experience for teachers and their mentors. Each topic includes rich and relevant examples from expert practitioners, accessible insights from research, and frequent opportunities to put knowledge into practice. 

The online platform enables this journey throughout the Programme, giving participants access to self-study materials, videos, webinars, podcasts and blogs, and an easy way to select and book onto their training sessions.

Partnering with schools and expert organisations

We are genuinely committed to working 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.

Our Early Career Professional Development Programme is designed with schools and our expert 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.