You may be aware that the Department for Education (DfE) has recently published updated guidance to reflect changes made to the training and support for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) starting from September 2025. Full details can be found at Early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) support – GOV.UK
The changes are summarised below:
- The term Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) replaces ECF-based training and induction
- All new ECT training programmes will be based on the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) replacing the Early Career Framework (ECF)
- Mentor training requirement has been reduced from 2 years to 1 year to reduce workload
- DFE Funded provider led programmes now include diagnostic tools to allow ECTs to focus on areas they most need to develop and are pitched to recognise that most ECTs will begin their training with a greater understanding of the framework from their ITT
For schools delivering their own training, there are now freely available DfE accredited school-led materials covering ITTECF in full, which schools can use to design and deliver their own training. Any school led programme must however first have the review and approval of an Appropriate Body before the programme commences.
Other important information:
- ECTs or mentors who started their training before 1 September 2025 will continue to participate in their existing training until complete. If they have not completed this training by 2027, they will be moved to training based on the new ITTECF
- Mentors who have completed an ECF mentor training programme prior to September 2025 will not be eligible for the new one-year mentor training programmes. All mentors, including those previously trained as part of an ECF-based programme, will have access to the new ITTECF based mentor training materials included as part of the provider-led programmes
Registration requirements for new ECTs and mentors remain the same as current including:
- Registration with the DFE at Manage training for early career teachers
- Statutory registration of ECTs with an Appropriate Body. Details of the Appropriate Body Service offered by Tees Valley Teaching School Hub can be found here Appropriate Body – Tees Valley Teaching School Hub
- Any registration requirements of your provider led training programme
Tees Valley Teaching School Hub works as a delivery partner with UCL Institute of Education through NETSP to deliver the DFE funded provider led training programme. Registration requirements can be found here ECF | NETSP | Newcastle University
The 5 Lead Providers of the DFE funded provider led training programmes are however as follows:
- Ambition Institute
- Education Development Trust
- National Institute of Teaching, founded by the School-Led Development Trust
- Teach First
- UCL Institute of Education
School led materials based on ITTECF for September 2025 start are available from National Institute of Teaching Materials for school-led ECT Programme 2025/26 – The National Institute of Teaching and UCL Institute of Education CEL – The Source – Home
Further information regarding current and new ECT support and training programmes along with details of Tees Valley Teaching School Hub full offer can be found here https://www.teesvalleytsh.co.uk/
Should you have any queries or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us
Tees Valley Teaching School Hub
01429273273 option 3
