Key Terms

ECF – Early Career Framework – sets out what Early Career Teachers are entitled to learn about and learn how to do when they start their careers. Training programmes from September 2021 to April 2025 had fidelity to this framework.

ITTECF – Initial Trainee teacher and Early Career Framework - sets out what Trainee teachers and Early Career Teachers are entitled to learn about and learn how to do when they start their careers. ECTP programmes from September 2025 have fidelity to this framework. 

ECT – Early Career Teacher – trainee teachers undergoing the 2-year professional development programme designed to focus on practice, knowledge and working habits. 

ECTE – Early Career Teacher Entitlement. For further information, click here 

 

FAQs

 

How do I register my ECTs?  

To ensure your ECT is onboarded successfully, please make sure they are registered on the DfE service and that all registration information is entered accurately. 

When registering an ECT, please: 

  • use the correct TRN, date of birth and email address; 
  • ensure your school has selected the correct Induction Tutor and Mentor; 
  • provide details of any previous induction completed; and 
  • notify us if there is a delay in the award of QTS. 

Registration errors can delay access to training materials and programme communications.  

My ECT cannot access UCL Extend. What should I do? 

Most access issues are caused by registration details not matching across systems. 

Before contacting Teach West London, please check: 

  • that the ECT has been registered on the DfE service; 
  • that the correct email address was used during registration; 
  • that registration has had sufficient time to process; and 
  • that your school has completed any required onboarding and partnership processes. 

If the issue remains unresolved, please contact us with the ECT's full name and school details.  

What information should I include when contacting Teach West London? 

To help us respond as quickly as possible, please include: 

  • your school name; 
  • the full name of the ECT or Mentor; 
  • a brief description of the issue; 
  • details of any actions already taken; and 
  • screenshots where appropriate. 

Providing this information at the outset helps us resolve queries more efficiently.  

Events and Training 

What is the difference between the Appropriate Body Welcome Event and the ECT Programme Welcome Conference? 

These are two separate events aimed at Year 1 ECTs with different purposes. 

The ECT Programme Y1 Welcome Conference forms part of the Teach West London/UCL professional development programme and focuses on programme content, expectations and training. The Y1 Welcome Conference will run online on Thursday 10th September at 4pm. The link for this will be sent round during the first week in September. 

For ECTs signed up to the Teach West London Appropriate Body service, a welcome video will be circulated in September. The Appropriate Body Welcome Event, will follow in October, and has been designed to introduce ECTs to statutory induction and the role of the Appropriate Body. 

ECTs registered for both services may be invited to attend both events.  

Which events should ECTs attend? 

ECTs should attend the welcome conferences and facilitated sessions that form part of their Teach West London/UCL programme throughout the year. 

Dates of specific events will vary depending on: 

  • programme year; 
  • school cluster 
  • induction route; and 
  • cohort. 

Training dates and booking information is shared with school Headteachers and Induction Tutors in the summer term. Where sessions are being delivered face-to-face attendance is highly encouraged. Schools should be supporting ECTs to attend as part of their Early Career Teacher Entitlement. 

How are the ECTs assessed?  

The ECF and ITTECF are not an assessment tool and does not replace a school’s chosen appropriate body assessment process. Click here to find out more about the Teach West London Appropriate Body Service.    

Who are the local partners delivering the ECT and Mentor training?   

A list of our local partners can be found on our website here.   

Mentors 

What is the difference between an Induction Tutor and a Mentor? 

The Induction Tutor is responsible for overseeing an ECT's statutory induction and ensuring induction requirements are met. 

The Mentor provides instructional coaching and supports the ECT's professional development throughout the programme. 

These are separate roles and should be registered correctly on the DfE service. Registering the wrong person can lead to training and access issues.  

Why can't a Mentor access their ECT's materials on UCL Extend? 

Mentors can only access programme materials when they are correctly linked to a currently active ECT. 

If a Mentor cannot see their ECT's materials, please check: 

  • they are registered as the Mentor (not the Induction Tutor); 
  • they are linked to the correct ECT on the DfE service; and 
  • recent registration changes have had time to process. 

If the problem persists, please contact Teach West London.  

How do I know whether a Mentor should attend training? 

Eligible Mentors will receive a booking link directly from Teach West London in September. 

In general, this includes: 

  • New Mentors who have not previously accessed the ECT Mentor training programme; and 
  • Mentors who began training part-way through the previous academic year. 

Mentors who have previously accessed the programme will have access to relevant resources on UCL Extend but will not be invited to attend TWL training sessions.  

Can schools book Mentor training on behalf of Mentors? 

No. Eligible Mentors receive their own booking link directly from Teach West London. 

Schools are encouraged to discuss suitable dates with Mentors in advance, but the booking link should not be forwarded or shared.  

Our Mentor is no longer mentoring an ECT. Why are they still receiving emails? 

Mentors are not automatically removed from the programme when they stop supporting a specific ECT. 

Where appropriate, Mentors are encouraged to continue engaging with mentor learning and development opportunities. Continuing participation supports future mentoring opportunities and professional development. 

What is the difference between Mentor training and Mentor support materials? 

Mentor support materials are designed to help Mentors prepare for and facilitate mentor meetings with their ECT. 

Mentor training is a separate professional development programme, including self-study and training events, which develops mentoring expertise and supports Mentor accreditation. 

Both can be accessed through UCL Extend, but they serve different purposes. The release of Mentor funding to schools is dependent on a Mentors engagement with training materials. 

I have previously completed ITT Mentor training with UCL. Do I need to complete further ECT Mentor training?  

If you have previous completed ITT training with UCL, you will still need to undertake 16 hours of the 18 hours ECTP Mentor Training. You do not need to complete the two-hour self-directed section on UCL Extend Part A: Fundamentals of training.  

If you have previously completed ECF mentor training with UCL, you do not need to undertake training for supporting an ECT on the new ECTP.  However, we recommend watching this short video outlining recent updates to the ECT Programme.  

What's different about the new ECT Programmes?   

Watch UCL's 'From ECF to ECTP - what's the same and what's changed?' video here.

Funding

How are the programmes funded?   

All state schools offering statutory induction will receive additional funding to deliver the Early Career Teacher reforms. This includes:   

  • Funding for 5% off timetable in the second year of induction for all early career teachers (additional to the 10% in the first year)   
  • Funding for time for mentors to spend with early career teachers in the second year of induction   
  • Funding for mentors to engage with training   

Additional funding is available for schools using a provider-led programme for the time mentors of early career teachers will spend on training. From September 2025, this will consist of up to 20 hours of backfill time over one year per mentor. Funding for this programme will be paid directly to schools and will be dependent on the mentors' engagement with the training programme. 

For information on funding amounts and payment schedules, please visit here. 

Changes During Induction 

What happens if an ECT moves to another school? 

An ECT's induction does not restart when they move schools. 

The new school will continue the induction process and register the ECT with its chosen Appropriate Body and training provider as required. 

Where appropriate, induction records and programme participation will transfer between schools.  

What should I do if my ECT has completed induction previously? 

When registering an ECT, please provide accurate information about any previous induction completed. 

This ensures the ECT is placed in the correct cohort and avoids delays during onboarding. Failure to declare previous induction can lead to registration errors and programme mismatches.  

How do I pause or return to the programme an ECT/Mentor who has had a break (deferral due to parental leave or long-term absence)?   

Please contact Teach West London to request that the deferral be added or removed at [email protected] including the following;   

  • School name,   
  • Full name of the ECT/Mentor you wish to defer or return to the programme,   
  • Date that the deferral started or date of return to programme, 
  • Reason for deferral e.g. parental leave. 

What should I do if our school appoints a new Induction Tutor? 

Please notify Teach West London as soon as possible and update the DfE's Register Early Career Teachers service. 

This ensures the new Induction Tutor receives programme communications, training updates and access to the appropriate systems and resources.  

Programme Administration 

How do I update an email address or remove an ECT or Mentor who has left? 

Changes to participant details should be made through the DfE's Register Early Career Teachers service. 

Schools should use this service to: 

  • update participant email addresses; 
  • notify the DfE that an ECT or Mentor has left; and 
  • ensure programme records remain accurate. 

Prompt updates help avoid delays and access issues.  

Why is it important to register the correct people in the correct roles? 

One of the most common causes of programme issues is registering the wrong person as a Mentor or Induction Tutor. 

Before submitting registrations, please ensure: 

  • the Mentor is the person providing regular mentoring to the ECT; and 
  • the Induction Tutor is the person overseeing statutory induction. 

Accurate registration helps ensure participants receive the correct communications, training invitations and system access.

Further questions  

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]