Early Career Programme
The DfE Online Service 'Manage Training for Early Career Teachers' opened on 24 June 2024 for new registrations for September 2024.
The Early Career Professional Development Programme (Early Career Programme) is structured to further develop ECTs' professional practice through online learning, virtual training and the support of a fully trained mentor throughout their first two years. Mentors also have a two-year programme to develop their practice.
From September 2024, Saffron Teaching School Hub will be working in partnership with Teach First to deliver the Early Career Programme.
Transition from EDT to Teach First - information for Induction Tutors
How do I register my ECTs and mentors for the Saffron Early Career Programme?
The first step to register for the Saffron Early Career Programme is done via the DfE Online Service Manage Training for Early Career Teachers.
If schools have previously had ECTs, the nominated Induction Tutor will have an existing link to the DfE Online Service.
All emails from the DfE about the Online Service go to the school's nominated Induction Tutor. Please check that your nominated Induction Tutor is always up-to-date on the DfE Online Service.
As part of the DfE Online Service registration process, you will be asked to choose a Lead Provider and Delivery Partner for your Early Career Programme. To register for the Saffron TS Hub programme:
- Lead Provider - choose Teach First
- Delivery Partner - choose Saffron Teaching School Hub
This document from Teach First gives a step-by-step guide. Please pay particular attention to pages 7 to 9.
Do I need to register separately with Teach First?
You do not need to register with Teach First directly. However, you must register your interest with Saffron Teaching School Hub.
To register your interest for the Saffron Early Career Programme with Teach First, please complete the form below:
Important - registration with an Appropriate Body
As part of the DfE Registration process, you will be asked to say which Appropriate Body you are using for statutory induction. Please note: this does not constitute registration with an Appropriate Body - you need to register with an Appropriate Body separately.
To register with the Saffron Appropriate Body service, click here.
ECT and Mentor Training events 2024-25
For those registered on the Saffron Early Career Programme, here are the ECT and Mentor training dates for 2024-25:
- Saffron ECF Autumn 2024/2025 Training Events
- Saffron ECF Provisional and Confirmed 2024/2025 Training Events
The planned dates for all events in our EC Programme can also be viewed on our Wall Calendar.
The online booking form for these events will be emailed to all registered EC Programme participants.
What is the Early Career Framework?
The Early Career Framework (ECF) sets out what ECTs are entitled to learn about and what they should learn how to do when they start their careers, focusing on the key areas of: behaviour management; pedagogy; classroom practice; subject knowledge; assessment and questioning; and professional development. It underpins a new statutory entitlement to receive two years of high quality training and in-school mentor support.
This entitlement includes:
- Two years of new, funded, high quality training available either as a Full Induction Programme (FIP), Core Induction Programme (CIP) or School-based Induction Programme.
- Funding for 5% time away from the classroom for teachers in their second year.
- A dedicated mentor, with support for these mentors including access to high quality training.
- Funding to cover mentors' time with the mentee in the second year of teaching.
- The ECF is not an assessment tool, as ECTs continue to be assessed separately against the Teachers' Standards overseen by Appropriate Bodies.
Further information about statutory induction can be found here: DfE Induction for early career teachers: statutory guidance
Early Career Programme funding
The Saffron/Teach First Early Career Programme is funded by the DfE for state-funded schools. This is known as the Funded Induction Programme (FIP).
Schools will be funded for:
- Time off timetable for ECTs and mentors in their second year
- Training delivered directly to ECTs and mentors
- Additional funding to backfill mentor time up to 36 hours
Payment will be received at the end of the second year. Schools will receive:
- Per Early Career Teacher: £1,200 (£1,300 for Fringe areas)
- Per mentor: £900
For full details of Early Career Programme funding, see the DfE links below:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/funding-and-eligibility-for-ecf-based-training
Contact us
If you have any questions about the Saffron/Teach First Early Career Programme, contact our ECF Lead Angela Cass at angelacass@saffron.academy or 01799 513030 ext. 1248.
Early Career Programme news
What is the impact so far of the Early Career Framework?
UCL are conducting a longitudinal study to evaluate the impact of the statutory framework for ECT induction introduced in September 2021. The new framework intends to support the retention of teachers and to improve teaching practice. The second interim report was published this year, focusing on ECTs’ and Mentors&rsq…
Change of Lead Provider for our Early Career programme
From September 2024, the Lead Provider for Saffron Teaching School Hub's Early Career programme will be Teach First.
We would like to thank our current Lead Provider, Education Development Trust (EDT), for the very positive relationship we have had with them. The EDT team have been approachable and responsive to the issu…
The new ITTECF - what has changed?
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A single curriculum framework resulting from a review of the Core Content Framework and the Early Career Framework was launched by the DfE on 30th January 2024. On 13th February, we held a briefing about the new ITTECF to look at what has changed.
Perspectives on the Early Career Professional Development Programme
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We asked an ECT, a Mentor, an Induction Tutor, a Headteacher and a Facilitator to give their perspective on the Early Career Professional Development Programme with the Saffron Teaching School Hub.