Early Career Teachers (ECTs)

There are a number or resources that Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and school leaders should be aware of, including the induction process.

There are a number or resources that Early Career Teachers and school leaders should be aware of, including:

The induction process for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) is underpinned by the Early Career Framework (ECF). School leaders and those involved in managing statutory induction arrangements must have regard to the DfE statutory guidance.
The Teachers' Standards apply to all teachers completing their statutory induction period.
Appropriate bodies guidance: induction and the initial teacher training and early career framework

Key Documents

Awarding qualified teacher status to overseas teachers

Local contact

Waltham Forest Council has a dedicated ECT Coordinator who offers support and guidance throughout the induction process. For any questions, please contact Sylvia Harper, ECT Coordinator, via email at sylvia.harper@walthamforest.gov.uk or by mobile on 07771 606 897.

North East London Chobham, Teaching School Hub' for NELTSH schools in Waltham Forest

Effective from 1 September 2024, the designated Teaching School Hub for the North East London region will be known as the North East London Chobham Teaching School Hub (NELTSH). The Hub will deliver a funded provider led ECF/ITTECF training programme in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching (NIOT), who will act as the lead provider for the programme. This is separate from the Appropriate Body (AB) role.

The Appropriate Body will work with Sylvia Harper, who is the Delivery Partner Lead for Waltham Forest Schools. Drawing on existing knowledge and expertise, she will provide day-to-day operational functions, support, advice/guidance, continuity, and collaboration with schools hosting Early Career Teachers (ECTs).

As the Appropriate Body, North East London Chobham Teaching School Hub will be responsible for making final decisions. For more information, visit: North East London Teaching School Hub website.

What’s new in the Statutory Guidance updated version April 2025 - effective from September 2025.

From 1 September 2025, the Early Career Framework (ECF) will be superseded by the updated Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) and schools are expected to deliver a programme of training and support based on the ITTECF. Appropriate bodies have a role in checking that a programme based on the ITTECF is in place (see para 5.11).
There are now two approaches schools can choose from, to enable the delivery of a training programme based on the ITTECF (see para 2.41)
From 1 September 2025, the term Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) will replace the terms ‘ECF-based training and induction’ to more clearly capture what forms the two-year period of support and training for ECTs at the start of their career.
References to Local Authorities undertaking the role of appropriate bodies have been removed, as Local Authorities can no longer be appropriate bodies.
References to the Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) have been updated now that ECT record systems have transferred to the Department for Education.
Neonatal care leave has been added to the list of types of statutory absences which are exempt from counting towards an automatic extension of an induction period (paragraph 3.7).

The ECTE supports Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in the first 2 years of their teaching career

Appropriate bodies and ECTE training programmes

Appropriate bodies are not responsible for delivering training or for the quality of provider-led training programmes.
If your school chooses to design its own training, your appropriate body will check that it fully covers the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF).

From September 2025, two Lead Providers will each design a set of school-led materials. These materials are intended to fully cover the ITTECF statements while also allowing schools to adapt and contextualise the training to meet the specific needs of their Early Career Teachers (ECTs).

The Department for Education (DfE) anticipates that most schools will continue to use DfE-funded training providers. However, it also aims to ensure that schools wishing to deliver their own training have the flexibility and resources to do so.

Use an approved lead provider (provider-led)

Lead providers work with delivery partners such as trusts, teaching school hubs, and universities to deliver training directly to Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and their mentors. Collectively, we refer to lead providers and delivery partners as ‘training providers’.

Provider-led training is fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE), meaning there is no cost for eligible schools. You can find out more about eligibility and funding for early career teacher entitlement.

Training providers may include face-to-face sessions as part of their programme, so it's important to check their location before signing up.

The following lead providers will offer training for ECTs starting September 2025:

Providers currently supporting ECTs but not delivering training based on the ITTECF from September 2025 may continue to do so until further notice.

Design and Deliver Your Own Training Programme (School-Led)

Your school can:

Design and deliver its own training programme based on the ITTECF
Use some or all of the DfE’s school-led materials to support the design of your training programme

School-led materials are free to use.
They are designed to fully cover the ITTECF statements and give schools the flexibility to adapt and contextualise the training to meet the specific needs of their Early Career Teachers (ECTs). These materials have been accredited by the DfE and quality-assured by the Education Endowment Foundation.

From September 2025, school-led materials based on the ITTECF will be available via platforms provided by the National Institute of Teaching and UCL Institute of Education.

If your school chooses to design its own training programme, with or without using the school-led materials, you should:

Ensure it covers every ‘learn that’ and ‘learn how to’ statement in the ITTECF
Inform your appropriate body, as they will need to review your programme to confirm it meets the full ITTECF requirements