Yes – in their first year of ITT mentoring, all mentors are expected to complete 20 hours of training. In the second year of mentoring, the expectation is that six hours of top-up training will be attended. Training does not have to be completed ahead of supporting an ITT trainee, but mentors should have enough skills and understanding to start support and build on this over the year. Joint observations between mentors and tutors from the ITT provider can also be included in the 20 hours of training.

Some prior learning may be taken into consideration, such as mentoring an early career teacher (ECT), coaching qualifications, or participating in the NPQLTD; however this will be determined by each individual ITT provider and will only cover certain aspects of their mentor training. Funding is only paid to schools for training completed and not for prior training counted as an exemption.

Each provider's training programme will be slightly different; however a lot of the training will be asynchronous for you to complete when you are able. Each provider will have their own platform or mechanism for you to record your training as you complete it. This means that if you move schools, your ITT provider will retain a record of your completed hours.

Each ITT provider will develop their own mentor training, which may result in different training for mentors working with different providers. If a school hosts trainees from different providers, a teacher acting as a mentor might have to undertake their initial mentor training with each provider. Schools can claim funding for the time a teacher spends training at each provider.

Having said this, ITT providers should not require mentors to repeat training but should adapt the delivery of the mentor training curriculum to meet individual needs. Where specific material has already been covered elsewhere, this may include a reduction in the total hours of training required.

If the ITT provider is the same for both students, then the mentor training you have undertaken will already be credited to you. If the second placement is through a different ITT provider, then it is likely that some of your general  mentor training will be counted; however you will also need to undertake provider-specific training as well (usually related to that provider's curriculum). 

You should expect to spend around 1.5 hours a week engaging in mentoring activities - this can include observations, feedback, coaching, and planning.

There is no statutory guidance on providing release time for ITT mentors. It is at the discretion of individual schools or trusts as to whether they provide you with time off timetable to undertake mentoring duties, or if PPA time needs to be used. Any mentor who has completed the required training or is in the process of completing the required training can observe an ITT student, so you may be able to work with other mentors in your setting to maximise your collective time.

If you have concerns about your trainee, contact your ITT provider: they will have allocated a tutor to your trainee who can help you with any issues and provide you with monitoring documentation to complete.

If you have questions you can contact either your provider or the Julian Teaching School Hub - we will be happy to help.