Schools in the North East are eligible to sign up to the new Early Career Framework in advance of a national roll out next year. Stephanie Bingham, Programme Director at North East Teaching Schools Partnership explains more about the framework and how it can support you in the current challenging circumstances.
While this year has been difficult for all teachers, it has been a particularly difficult start for those in the early stages of their careers, not to mention the staff who have the responsibility of guiding or mentoring them. Significant changes to the way our schools have been teaching, not to mention developments occurring overnight in some cases mean teachers are having to prepare for every eventuality, and supporting an NQT through this – while incredibly important can be an added pressure.
The Early Career Framework is a brand new professional development pathway for early career teachers and their mentors over two years. As part of the Government’s recruitment and retention strategy, next year all schools will have to follow the early career framework in their support of NQTs. This year Schools in the North East have the option of following it as part of the Early Roll Out.
The programme consists of short reading and teaching-focused tasks, guided mentoring materials, plus termly facilitated sessions for ECTs and also for mentors. Written by teachers for teachers, it is sensitive to workload and fully centred around developing classroom practice.
Schools which complete the two year programme will receive £2,200 per Early Career Teacher in the second year of the programme.
Schools have already reported how much they are valuing the rich professional conversations they are having with their new teachers, and how much their NQTs appreciate an evidence based support programme after such an interrupted training year.
‘These materials are working really well for us, and are certainly promoting a lot of professional discussion’ Senior Leader & Induction Lead, Gateshead
If you have an NQT this year and have not yet signed up to take part in the ECF, then you have until the end of October to do so. There are four providers with programmes for the early roll out – you can find more information on them and sign up here.
NETSP is very proud to be one of the providers of the ECF through our membership of the UCL Early Career Framework Consortium. You can contact NETSP at ecfne@newcastle.ac.uk
