From September 2025, the package of training for teachers in the first two years of the career, has been renamed. Moving forward, the statutory entitlement will be known as the Early Career Training Programme.
The Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) covers the training and induction periods at the start of a teacher’s career.
The ITTECF sets out the entitlement of every trainee and early career teacher (ECT) to the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching, and to the mentoring and support from expert colleagues they should receive throughout the three or more years at the start of their career.
This is a statutory requirement for all ECTs.
of ECTs agree that they able to apply what they’ve learned in the CPD sessions to their practice.
of Mentors agree that they can apply what they’ve learned to their role as a mentor.
Programme Induction
Training Sessions
Self-directed Study
Mentor Meetings
(weekly mentoring)
Term 1
1 hr
6 hrs
10 hrs
12 hrs
Term 2
6 hrs
6 hrs
10 hrs
12 hrs
Term 3
6 hrs
6 hrs
10 hrs
12 hrs
Total Hrs
1 hr
18 hrs
30 hrs
36 hrs
Programme Induction
Mentor Training Sessions
Self-directed Study
Term 1
1 hr
6 hrs
2.5 hrs
Term 2
6 hours
2 hrs
2.5 hrs
Term 3
6 hours
2 hrs
2.5 hrs
Term 3
1 hr
10 hrs
7.5 hrs
ECT Training Sessions
Self-directed Study
Mentor Meetings
(fortnightly mentoring)
Term 1
4 hours
4 hours
12 hours
Term 2
4 hours
4 hours
12 hours
Term 3
4 hours
4 hours
12 hours
Total Hours
12 hours
12 hours
36 hours
ECT Training Sessions:
6 hours per term = 18 hours total
Self-directed Study:
10 hours per term = 30 hours total
Mentor Meetings (weekly mentoring):
12 hours per term = 36 hours total
Programme Induction:
1 hour in Term 1 = 1 hour total
Mentor Training Sessions:
2.5 hours per term = 7.5 hours total
Self-directed Study:
6 hours in Term 1 and 2 hours in Terms 2 and 3 = 10 hours total
ECT Training Sessions:
4 hours per term = 12 hours total
Self-directed Study:
4 hours per term = 12 hours total
Mentor Meetings (fortnightly mentoring):
12 hours per term = 36 hours total
The Department for Education will fully fund all training for ECTs and Mentors on a Provider-Led Programme.
All state-funded schools that provide statutory induction will receive additional financial support to implement the Early Career Framework reforms. This funding includes:
ECTs will purposefully revisit the elements of teaching introduced in ITT to deepen their knowledge and understanding. The ITTECF remains designed to equip all trainees and ECTs with a shared body of knowledge and skills, irrespective of subject or phase.
The ITTECF consists of 8 core areas:
High Expectations
How Pupils Learn
Subject & Curriculum
Classroom Practice
Adaptive Teaching
Assessment
Managing Behaviour
Professional Behaviours
For more information about the Early Career Training Programme, please email [email protected].
Consider including a QR code to allow email recipients quick access (Parents, Local Community and Sixth Form students)
An example of an email footnote could look like this:
Do you know someone who is interested in training to teach? Send them this [insert QR code]
Include ‘Train to Teach’ signposting to local providers or DfE materials as an email footnote or signature strip.
Other practical and innovative approaches to recruitment
Use CEIAG lessons, events and articles to educate students and promote teaching as a career choice.
Put a banner on your school gates/perimeter fencing to show your community that they can access teacher training locally.
Develop a strong post-ITE training offer for staff considering career progression, ECF, NPQs, Curriculum Hubs, CPD for M3-M6 teachers, other CPD.
Share these myths and misconceptions-busters about teacher training and teaching to inform potential applicants about the profession.
Talent Spotting – Promote routes into teaching for suitably qualified staff (e.g. TAs, Technicians, Librarians, non-teaching pastoral or DSLs) via Salaried routes, Apprenticeships, Undergraduate or Post-graduate pathways.
Facilitate sessions for ITE providers on specialist areas and fundamental concepts in education (typically 1.5 – 6 hours).
Offer whole-year placements (e.g. to trainee A in Autumn & Summer Terms and Trainee B in the Spring term) with mentoring.
Offer longer ITE programme placements (typically 12-20 weeks) with mentoring of trainees.
Offer shorter ITE programme placements (typically 8-12 weeks) with mentoring of trainees.
Offer Intensive Training & Practice (ITAP) placements to ITE providers (typically 1-2 days) to allow trainees to observe practices and apply learning.
Offer enhanced placements (1-5 days) as part of an ITE programme, focussing on a phase, type, or specialist area of education (e.g. PRU, Special School, EYFS, Post-16).
Offer ‘School Experience’ tasters (typically 0.5 or 1 day) to potential applicants.
Register as a school on ‘DfE Apply’ as a ‘location’ for potential applicants to find/search train to teach providers in close proximity to their postcode.
Share positive stories, case studies and testimonials of colleagues and ex-trainees (associated with your school), showcasing career progression, opportunities and CPD.
Follow and share content on your school accounts from these below to reach your community:
ITE providers in the West Midlands
Connect with ITE providers in the West Midlands – click here to access a map of local and national Accredited providers.
Connect with ITE providers on social media from the districts covered by the John Taylor Teaching School Hub region or in the immediate surrounding districts:
Pre-populated posts:
Other:
Promote the Department for Education’s train to teach recruitment events
Follow and share content on your school accounts from these below to reach your community:
ITE providers in the West Midlands
Connect with ITE providers in the West Midlands – click here to access a map of local and national Accredited providers.
Connect with ITE providers on social media from the districts covered by the John Taylor Teaching School Hub region or in the immediate surrounding districts:
