Registering for the Early Career Framework

Once you have qualified as a teacher, the next step in the teacher training process is to complete the mandatory 2-year Early Career Framework programme.

In this guide, we’ll go through how you are enrolled in the course and the different roles of everyone involved.

Who needs to register for the Early Career Framework?

All newly qualified teachers, also known as Early Career Teachers (ECT), in England need to be registered for the Early Career Framework (ECF). However, it is the responsibility of the school to register their ECTs.

The school's designated ECT induction tutor will need to register both the ECT and the mentor through the Department for Education (DfE) online portal.

What is the role of an ECF induction tutor?

An ECT induction tutor is a member of staff who is responsible for managing the ECF programme within their school. Induction tutors are usually members of the senior leadership team.

They are also a main point of contact to ensure the ECF programme is being delivered to a high standard.

Some of the core responsibilities of an ECF induction tutor include:

Choosing mentors- Selecting mentors who have the knowledge, skills and availability to support an ECT across the 2-year programme.
Creating timetables- Ensuring ECTs and mentors have the appropriate timetables to make the most of the ECF programme.
Tracking engagement- Monitoring engagement from ECTs to make sure they are participating in the programme.
Retention of ECTs and mentors- Providing the right support to retain ECTs and mentors throughout the 2-year programme.

What support will I receive as an ECF induction tutor?

As an ECF induction tutor, you will receive a full induction from our Learn with FA1 team.

You will also receive a detailed programme guide and overview from our training provider, Ambition Institute.

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What is the role of an ECT mentor?

A mentor's role is to support newly qualified teachers throughout the ECF programme. Mentors will work the closest with their ECTs, helping to develop core teaching skills and provide structured support throughout the programme.

Mentors will be required to attend online clinics to complement the modules being undertaken by their ECTs and find ways to tailor and align support accordingly.

What training will I receive as an ECF mentor?

At the start of the ECF programme, we will provide mentors will training to develop skills in:

Assessing ECT progress
Providing effective and actionable feedback
Using deliberate practice to accelerate progress

You will also receive the opportunity to reflect on your own skills, discovering how to develop instructional coaching methods.

Can mentors be assigned to more than one ECT?

Yes, experienced mentors with strong methods of coaching can be assigned to more than one ECT.

However, it is generally a good idea to only have one ECT to each mentor to help make the workload more manageable.

How much does ECF cost my school?

The ECF programme is fully funded by the DfE, meaning it is completely free for your school. In fact, your school could be eligible for funding from the DfE.

Schools and establishments eligible for funding include:

State-funded schools
Maintained and non-maintained special schools
Colleges
Sixth forms
Children’s homes
Nurseries

If your school or establishment is not eligible, you can arrange a self-funded route directly with us.

Why choose Forward as One?

Learn with FA1 is an exceptional hub of learning and innovation dedicated to shaping the future of education.

All our programmes, including ECF, are constructed around evidence-informed best practice.

Each one of our educators and participants can be assured that they will benefit from the best research-driven material, carefully detailed to provide a basis for outstanding pedagogy.