ECF Delivery

From September 2025 the Early Career Framework (ECF) will be replaced by the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE), this includes the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) for ECTs and Mentors. The ECTP will bring together the frameworks for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and Early Career Teachers (ECTs) this is the ITTECF.

The ITTECF sets out what all ECTs should learn about and learn how to do, in order to help them to meet the Teacher Standards at the end of their two year induction.

We will continue to partner with Teach First to deliver the ECTP. The Teach First ECF Programme was rated 'Outstanding' in all areas by Ofsted and is fully funded by the DfE.

We work with partners in Halton, Warrington and Wigan, to provide local delivery of training for ECTs and Mentors.

First Year ECTs

The first year of ECT training is an exciting opportunity to meet other ECTs in your local area and hear from the expertise of some highly experienced facilitators!

First year ECTs are entitled to 10% off timetable (in addition to PPA) and are expected to use this time to attend seminars, complete self-directed study and observe other team members. Your Induction Tutor and Mentor will guide you on how best to use your ECT time for your development.

Term

Training and Support

Content Covered

Full day Welcome Conference with local ECTs

3 hours of face-to-face seminar delivery

Self-directed learning on Brightspace

In-school weekly mentoring sessions

How can you create an effective learning environment?

How do pupils learn?

A total of 6 hours of face-to-face seminar delivery

Self-directed learning on Brightspace

In-school weekly mentoring sessions

What makes effective classroom practice?

How can you use assessment and feedback effectively?

A total of 6 hours of face-to-face seminar delivery

Self-directed learning on Brightspace

In-school weekly mentoring sessions

How can you support all pupils to succeed?

How can you design a coherent curriculum?

First Year Mentors

Mentoring is such a rewarding element of your teaching role and on behalf of your ECT – thank you for the time you are about to commit to shaping the first few years of their teaching career. You will meet with your ECT each week and your mentoring handbook can help to support these meetings.

From September 2025 the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) for Mentors will last for one year.

Term

Training and Support

Content Covered

Autumn 1

Full day Welcome Conference with local Mentors

Weekly mentoring sessions with your ECT

Introduction to the programme

Developing the ECT Mentor relationship

Autumn 2

A half day of face-to-face seminar delivery

Weekly mentoring sessions with your ECT

Moving from novice to expert

Expert instructional coaching and deliberate practice

Spring 1

A full day of face-to-face seminar delivery

Weekly mentoring sessions with your ECT

Developing inclusive practice

Balancing support and challenge

Developing resilience

Sharing good practice

Second Year ECTs

As you head to your second year of the ECF and your confidence and experience grows so will your autonomy in school. You will attend less seminars and meet less frequently with your mentor. You are entitled to a 5% reduction in timetable (in addition to PPA) and your development cycles, and mentor will support you in how best to use this.

ECTs who started their ECF training prior to July 2025 will complete Year 2 of the ECF.

The Development Cycles are non-sequential, so you may join Year 2 of the ECF on any cycle – this is nothing to worry about!

Term

Training and Support

Content Covered

Full day Welcome Conference with local ECTs

1.5 hours of online subject specific seminar delivery

Self-directed learning on Brightspace

In-school weekly mentoring sessions

Developing pupil’s intrinsic motivation

Supporting pupils to develop subject-specific skills

Using meaningful and memorable explanations

Anticipating and addressing common misconceptions

Using structured talk to develop pupil’s literacy

Developing a coherent curriculum

A total of 3 hours of online subject specific seminar delivery

Self-directed learning on Brightspace

In-school bi-weekly mentoring sessions

A total of 3 hours of online subject specific seminar delivery

Self-directed learning on Brightspace

In-school bi-weekly mentoring sessions

Second Year Mentors

Year 2 of mentor training has recently been reduced to acknowledge the experience, expertise and workload of mentors. For your second year of training you will have one, face-to-face Welcome Conference which lasts for 3 hours, followed by 1 hourly seminar per term. As your ECT’s confidence increases, their mentoring sessions will reduce to bi-weekly.

Mentors who began their ECF training prior to July 2025 will complete Year 2 of the ECF Programme.

Term	Training and Support	Content Covered
1	Half day Welcome Conference with local Mentors Bi-weekly mentoring sessions with your ECT	Introduction to year two of the ECF programme Supporting Development Cycles Networking for professional development
2	1 hour of online seminar delivery Bi-weekly mentoring sessions with your ECT	Developing an inclusive educator
3	1 hour of online seminar delivery Bi-weekly mentoring sessions with your ECT	Developing beyond the ECF