Frequently Asked Questions

Early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) is a 2-year programme that supports early career teachers (ECTs) when they start their teaching career. It’s designed to: 

• develop their professional skills 
• provide them with the knowledge and skills to meet the Teachers’ Standards 

 It includes: 

• a training programme for ECTs 
• mentor support for ECTs 
• a training programme for new mentors (if the school uses a DfE funded lead provider) 
• time off timetable for ECTs and mentors 
• regular progress reviews and 2 formal assessments for ECTs against the teachers’ standards 

The term ‘early career teacher entitlement (ECTE)’ replaces ‘ECF-based training and induction’ from September 2025.

Yes, an ECT who has completed induction, and is judged to have failed to meet the Teachers’ Standards at the end of their induction period, is not permitted to repeat induction.

An ECT is encouraged to start their induction as soon as possible after gaining qualified teacher status (QTS) but there is no set time limit for starting or completing an induction period.

No. The ECT is assessed at the mid and end points of induction against the Teachers’ Standards. The ITTECF is not an assessment framework. It is an evidence-based professional development curriculum which is carefully sequenced to help ECT understand what they should know and be able to do. It is designed to support their progress against the Teachers’ Standards.

Yes, all early career teachers must be registered with an appropriate body (AB) before they can begin induction. Registering for AB services is separate to registering for an ECT training programme.

The appropriate body makes the final decision as to whether an early career teacher has performed satisfactorily towards the Teachers’ Standards.