For any Early Career Teacher (ECT) beginning their teaching journey, it is vital that they start off on the right foot to enable them to flourish and become an established teacher. We pride ourselves on our Early Career Framework (ECF) programme and the pathway it gives ECTs in achieving this goal. For many, taking part in an ECF programme alongside being given their first teaching role can be a daunting prospect, particularly as ECTs are often freshly out of the education system themselves and for some this could well be their first full time job since graduating.  

We’ve put together this article to help guide ECTs through their ECF. We find that giving this information to ECTs enables them to truly get an idea of what to expect on the programme.

Programme Schedule

Our ECF has been designed to support ECT development in 5 core areas:  behaviour management; pedagogy; curriculum; assessment; professional behaviours. To keep our ECTs on track and organised, our Candidate Support Team have put together this programme schedule which outlines exactly what an ECT will be doing across each term across both years of the ECF.

From this schedule ECTs can see when each of their 9 modules take place as well as what is covered on these modules. This is perfect for ECTs who want to stay organised and visually map out their ECF journey.

Rationale for the programme schedule

The 8 standards of the ECF (which themselves are mapped to the Teachers’ Standards) are combined into 5 modules in Year 1 that fully address the content of all standards. This is whilst the 4 modules in Year 2 deepen ECTs’ knowledge and practice in relation to aspects of the ECF that are most relevant to each ECT. Programme modules are sequenced in order to address key priorities for ECTs and their schools across a typical school year.

ECT learning in each half term is fostered through an integrated programme of ECT self-study, ECT mentor meetings, online and face-to-face training events. These learning activities address ECTs’ knowledge of the programme content and their ability to put this into practice to bring about high-quality pupil learning.

Suggested further readings are given for each module, this is where ECTs or their mentors may wish to engage directly with some of the literature that underpins the ECF. The use of a spiral curriculum model within the programme supports teachers to revisit aspects of the ECF over time as their conceptual and practical learning develops, this allows them to both deepen and contextualise their understanding of the ECF as they progress. The sequencing of the programme in this way targets the capacities and needs of ECTs as they develop over time.

In Year 1 of the programme, ECTs’ limited classroom experience may lead to reduced cognitive and practical flexibility in coping under pressure with multiple classroom demands that an ECT will likely have faced before.

Year 2 deepens both an ECTs’ understanding of the content of the ECF and their ability to enact this content through their teaching. Mentoring and opportunities to conduct supported practitioner inquiry build on the ECTs’ growing expertise as skilled professionals, as they begin to grow in confidence and ability following a successful first year of the ECF.

Key roles within the programme

There are a few key roles for our ECF programme that every ECT should be aware of before starting. Building up strong working relationships with all of these roles is advantageous to every ECT, this is particularly true for their Early Career Mentor (ECM).

Programme Leader

The programme leader oversees the successful implementation of the programme nationally. 

Regional Tutor

They are responsible for supporting ECTs online and at regional workshops helping an ECT get the most out of these resources. 

Mentor

The mentor is a suitably experienced teacher in the ECT’s school, designated with formal responsibility to work collaboratively within the school to help ensure that the ECT receives the highest-quality experience on the programme.

Looking for more information?

If you would like any more information on our ECF programme, get in contact with us:

Email: enquiries@bestpracticenet.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 117 920 9200 (8.30am-5.30pm, Mon-Fri)

View our ECF page