We endeavour to promote the support, professional development and wellbeing of all ECTs in our schools. Through regular communications, briefings and access to advice; we have been able to bring greater consistency to ECT support across our region. 

We have achieved this consistency through regular guidance and modelling in a number of ways. Sharing exemplar reports to build Induction Tutors confidence in report writing, having bookable weekly meetings for Induction Tutors, Headteachers and ECTs to reach out and seek advice – particularly when ECTs are identified as struggling in their role. Alongside a detailed, accessible AB Handbook for all stakeholders to refer to. In addition, we are at the end of the phone or email every day, whatever the need.  

We love sharing in the success of ECT’s achievements and recognising the incredible routines schools use to ensure there is consistent, high quality and enriching opportunities for ECTs to thrive. An effective strategy to keep abreast of school activities is through our hugely successful AB Check In visits, we have already visited 102 schools since September 2025. 

This year we have asked ECTs to share their thoughts on the value of seeking out best practice from expert and experienced teachers; some wonderful examples below. 

“For me, the biggest benefit is being able to see what good practice actually looks like with real students, rather than just reading or talking about it. It makes all the theory from training suddenly click” Max 

“I often find that the most valuable takeaways from best practice observations are not always the reason I set out to visit... I left with inspiration around communication, classroom layout and  different ways to be more meaningful and effective!” Ruby 

“It shows how adaptable we must be as teachers and reminds you that in your own class you have the flexibility to change the plan mid lesson if required, and that provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on how things could go better next time.” Iona 

A great deal of our HISP TSH Appropriate Body success is down to the confidence and proficiency in our Induction Tutors. Hosting half termly briefing sessions enable key messages regarding our expectations and key activities to be shared. Once again, here are some wonderful examples below. 

“Being an Induction tutor is one of my favourite aspects of my role because you have a real impact on colleagues’ development. It’s brilliant to see current and former ECTs flourish in different roles and to know you have played a small part in that.” Emma 

“I organise after-school ECT training sessions that complement and contextualise learning from the ITTECF, as well as respond directly to needs identified through termly observations.” Nancy 

“Once a term, we also try to meet as a group for tea and cake. It is informal, but the peer-to-peer sharing is invaluable. Additionally, for those finding a stage of the ECT period particularly challenging we have implemented a "Buddy System" using Recently Qualified Teachers from different departments to the one that the ECT is in. This provides a "safe space" for ECTs to ask questions and has positively impacted morale for everyone involved.” Clare 

As a result of these routines, close access to guidance and support - we have 97% of our 1086 ECTs on track, meeting the Teachers’ Standards which we believe is wonderful. Equally, we have 20 ECTs who required additional school support, that have successfully improved their practice and have been viewed as back ‘on track’ to successfully pass Induction.