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Guidance for early career teachers (ECTs): ECF-based training

Overview

As an ECT, you are entitled to a 2-year programme of training and mentor support as part of your induction.

This package of training and support is known as ‘ECF-based training’ because it is based on the early career framework (ECF).

The framework sets out what you should learn, and learn how to do, during the 2 years of your induction. It is designed to develop your teaching knowledge, skills and working habits.

ECF-based training is part of your 2-year induction

You are entitled to:

a 2-year programme of ECF-based training
support from a dedicated mentor
time off timetable for induction activities, including ECF-based training and mentor sessions
regular progress reviews and 2 formal assessments against the teachers’ standards

Your school may offer you extra training and support in addition to ECF-based training, but not instead of ECF-based training.

You cannot fail your ECF-based training

ECF-based training is a professional development programme. It is not an assessment tool and you cannot fail any part of it.

You should engage with your ECF-based training as fully as possible, but failing to complete it will not mean you fail your induction.

You do not need to collect evidence

Your induction tutor may ask you to provide evidence of meeting the teachers’ standards during your formal assessments. This should only consist of existing documents, such as lesson plans or feedback from observations. There’s no need for you to create anything new for a formal assessment.

Following the assignments in your ECF-based training is one way to show that you meet the teachers’ standards, but you do not need to use your ECF-based training in this way.

Starting your induction mid-term

You can start your induction at any time. Your school will make sure your ECF-based training fits your circumstances.

If you work part-time, your headteacher will work with your induction tutor, appropriate body and training provider to arrange ECF-based training and mentor support around your needs and schedule.

If you’re serving a reduced induction period, your ECF-based training programme can be adapted to suit your circumstances. You do not need to cover the full depth of the ECF.

If you have difficulties or concerns

Your induction tutor is the person responsible for ECT induction at your school. Speak to them first if:

you’re struggling to engage with your training
you have any concerns about your induction or statutory entitlements (time off timetable or mentor support)

If they cannot help you, speak to your appropriate body. They’re responsible for making sure ECTs receive their statutory entitlements and are fairly and consistently assessed. Your school should provide you with contact details for the right person to speak to.

If you’re asked to register on the DfE’s service

If your school uses a training provider or accredited materials to deliver your ECF-based training, we’ll need to confirm that you are eligible for funded training and materials.

When your school induction tutor tells us about your induction, you’ll get an email from the Department for Education (DfE) asking you to register on our manage training for early career teachers service.

We’ll ask for your:

teacher reference number (TRN)
date of birth

How to find your TRN

You can usually find your TRN on your payslip, teachers’ pension documents or teacher training records.

It’s a unique ID that:

is usually 7 digits long, for example ‘4567814’
may include the letters ‘RP’ or a slash ‘/’ symbol, for example ‘RP99/12345’
may also be called a QTS, GTC, DfE, DfES or DCSF number

You’ll have a TRN if you hold, or are working towards, qualified teacher status (QTS) in England.

What happens next

We’ll check your details in the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) records to confirm your eligibility for funding.

You can then start or continue your training programme and receive access to training materials.

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