Welcome

Hello! And welcome to this Early Career Teachers Programme newsletter. 

Please read this email carefully: it contains important information.

The multiple effects of practice: skill, habit and reduced cognitive load

We know that the summer term is a super-busy one for educators in all phases and contexts, but please do encourage your ECTs to keep up their engagement with the programme - especially if they are near the end of their induction period. This article helps to explain why the ECT programme emphasises regular study and incremental steps: repeated practice of a skill leads to automaticity - improved skill; habitual behaviour; and reduced cognitive load. All vital for teachers early on in their professional journey.

Reminder

ECT or mentor staffing changes may affect our delivery to your school of the ECT induction programme. Please ensure that:

• You let us know of any changes by completing this form (you will need to complete the form separately for each change you wish to make). You can complete this form at any time throughout the year. 
• You have updated Manage Training for Early Career Teachers
• You have let your Appropriate Body know.

PLEASE READ THE SECTION OF THIS EMAIL THAT CORRESPONDS TO WHEN YOU/YOUR ECT BEGAN THE PROGRAMME.

Please also check out the news items below.

Spotlight on... Communication

We understand that busy teachers and leaders don't always want to hear from us - but we love hearing from you! Here's how to keep everyone happy: 

• If you make staffing changes that affect the ECT programme, let us know via the form linked above. We can then make the changes at our end, and you won't get emails from us chasing up people who are no longer participating on the programme.
• We don't just want to know about the big changes: if you know that your ECT or mentor won't be able to complete self-study or meet for a couple of weeks, drop us an email to tell us. It might be because of illness, or - especially at this time of year - pressure from exams or SATs. Whatever the reason, if we know about it in advance, we won't send already-time pressed teachers yet another email about their engagement with the programme.

Fewer emails from us to you, while we still feel popular - everyone's a winner.

Focus on... ECTE 25

You may have seen that DfE has published updated guidance to reflect the changes being made to the training and support for early career teachers starting September 2025. You can find all the details here, but we've broken down what the changes actually mean for schools.

• The term early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) replaces ECF-based training and induction.
• ECTE training programmes will be based on the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF).

The content of the ITTECF includes updates to:

• Adaptive teaching and special educational needs and disability (SEND).
• High quality oral language (oracy).
• Early cognitive development.
• Evidence literacy.

The Julian TSH continues to partner with Ambition Institute to deliver the ECTE. The programme has been updated as follows:

• Tailored training content for ECTs – the programme includes diagnostic tools to allow ECTs to focus on areas they most need to develop.
• Greater contextualisation – the programme includes more contextualisation to subject and phase with enhanced subject-specific materials and resources. This includes materials and resources to support teaching pupils with SEND.
• Pitch and tone – the programme recognises that most ECTs will begin their training with a greater understanding of the framework from their ITT. 
• Reduced mentor workload – the training requirement for mentors is reduced from 2 years to 1 year. Coaching sessions between ECTs and mentors will continue in year 2 as before.

Schools will register their ECTs and mentors on the programme in the same way as before:

1. Let your ECTE programme provider know that you wish to register with them – they will need to contact DfE and let them know. 
2. Choose your Appropriate Body (AB) and let them know that you wish to register with them. If you wish to join the Julian TSH AB, please contact us to request a service level agreement.
3. Identify your induction tutor and make sure they have access to the DfE online service, Manage Training for Early Career Teachers.
4. Register your ECT(s) and their mentor(s) on Manage Training for Early Career Teachers. Your school’s induction tutor should do this; they will be asked to specify your chosen AB and your chosen ECTE training programme.
5. When your chosen AB confirms you can do so, register your ECT(s) on ECT Manager. Induction cannot begin until you have done this, and your AB has authorised the registration.
6. Your chosen ECTE training provider will receive the information that you have entered on Manage Training for Early Career Teachers and will send you an email with next steps.

Spotlight on... Downloading your portfolio

As ECTs and mentors come to the end of their programme, they may wish to retain evidence of their hard work over the last two years. Find out how, here.

Do make sure that you take full advantage of the free learning available to you, before you lose access to StepLab at the end of your induction period.

April 2025 starters upcoming sessions

Mentors

• Mentor conference 1: 2 May, face to face

Mentors have been invited to this session.

ECTs

• ECT conference and clinic 1: 8 May, face to face
• ECT conference and clinic 2: 1 July, face to face

ECTs have been/will be invited to these full-day sessions.

January 2025 starters upcoming sessions

ECTs

• ECT clinic 3: 9-12 June, twilight, online 

ECTs will be added to the relevant clinic date and will be sent joining instructions. They can also check their clinic information on MyAmbition, under 'My Events'.

September 2024 starters upcoming sessions

Mentors

• Mentor conference 2: 16 or 19 June, face to face

Mentors will be invited to book onto this full-day event.

ECTs

• ECT clinic 3: 9-12 June, twilight, online 

ECTs will be added to the relevant clinic date and will be sent joining instructions. They can also check their clinic information on MyAmbition, under 'My Events'.

January 2024 starters upcoming sessions

ECTs

• ECT clinic 6: 23-30 June, twilight, online

ECTs will be added to the relevant clinic date and will be sent joining instructions. They can also check their clinic information on MyAmbition, under 'My Events'.

September 2023 starters

ECTs

• ECT clinic 6: 23-30 June, twilight, online

ECTs will be added to the relevant clinic date and will be sent joining instructions. They can also check their clinic information on MyAmbition, under 'My Events'.

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