ECT Induction and the Early Career Teacher Entitlement
ECT Induction is a statutory two-year support and training programme for newly qualified teachers in England. It ensures early career teachers (ECTs) receive structured development, mentoring, and assessment during their first two years in the profession.
From September 2025, the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) replaces the previous Early Career Framework (ECF)-based induction. ECT training programmes will be based on the ITTECF - an updated framework based on a combination of initial teacher training (ITT), core content framework (CCF) and the ECF.
The ECTE is designed to better integrate the training and development of new teachers with the latest educational research and classroom needs. The updated programme ensures that there is an increased focus on areas such as SEND, oracy, adaptive teaching and literacy, with more exemplification included for different phases, settings and subjects. In addition, mentors will have access to diagnostic tools to tailor content for their ECTs.
For mentors, from September 2025 there will be a one-year development programme designed for supporting and developing ECTs' practice.
The DfE update on the changes can be found here: ECTE Changes 2025
What can ECTs expect from their induction?
- Structured Support:
a two-year programme with a reduced timetable (10% in Year 1, 5% in Year 2) to allow time for development - Dedicated Mentorship: weekly mentoring in Year 1 and continued coaching in Year 2, tailored to individual needs
- Professional Development: access to high-quality training materials aligned with the ITTECF, focusing on practical classroom strategies
- Regular Reviews: formal assessments at the end of each year, plus regular progress reviews to track development
Collaborative Learning: opportunities to engage with peers, share experiences, and reflect on practice- Wellbeing Focus: emphasis on workload management, resilience, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance
- Tailored Content: diagnostic tools will help mentors personalise support for ECTs
Early Career Training Programme and Appropriate Body
As part of induction, ECTs need to engage with an Early Career Training Programme.
They also need to be registered with an Appropriate Body, who will independently assure the quality of statutory teacher induction, ensuring that schools provide adequate support and assessment for their ECTs, in accordance with the statutory guidance.
Saffron Teaching School Hub offers an Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) and an Appropriate Body (AB) service. Information about our ECTP and AB service, and details of how to register, can be found here:
