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Your guide to induction in England

The NEU has put together this guide to help make your induction year work for you.

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Introducing induction

Induction is an important part of your development as a teacher. The National Education Union (NEU) has produced this guide to answer some of the questions you might have and to help make your induction work for you.

Induction in England is underpinned by the Early Career Framework (ECF) which was introduced in 2021. The ECF requires teachers with qualified teacher status (QTS) to complete a two year induction period, with a structured programme of support, a dedicated mentor, and additional time off timetable in the second year of teaching.

In Wales, the induction period for newly qualified teachers (NQT) is one year. For more information about induction in Wales, please see the NEU publication Your Guide to Induction in Wales.

In Northern Ireland, induction and early professional development (EPD) normally take three years to complete. For more information about induction in Northern Ireland, please see the NEU publication Your Guide to Induction in Northern Ireland.

For new teachers who have achieved QTS, induction has a very precise meaning. To be able to continue to teach without restrictions in maintained schools, non-maintained (or independent) special schools, maintained nursery schools, maintained children’s centres and pupil referral units, you must successfully complete the required induction period by meeting the Teachers’ Standards.

The standards set out the criteria against which the ECT will be assessed, and what can reasonably be expected of an ECT by the end of their induction period.

What are the Teachers’ Standards in England?

The Teachers’ Standards are used to assess all those completing their statutory induction period, as well as all other teachers in maintained schools. The decision about whether you have met the standards should take into account your work context and be made on the basis of what can be reasonably expected of an ECT by the end of their induction period. Judgements should reflect the expectation that ECTs have effectively consolidated their initial teacher education and demonstrated an ability to meet relevant standards over a sustained period.

Appropriate bodies

The appropriate body is responsible for deciding whether you meet the standards, based on your head teacher’s recommendation.

Your employer must register you with the appropriate body before you start induction.

Your employer will be able to tell you which appropriate body is responsible for your institution.

 

 

NEU members at NPYW 2024

New teachers

Advice for teachers starting out in their careers, known as Early Career Teachers (ECT) in England and Northern Ireland and Newly Qualified Teachers (NQT) in Wales.

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