Early Career Teacher Development
Supporting new teachers in the formative years of their teaching career.
How NELT Hub supports early career teachers
Investing in your early career teacher development with the NELT Hub will give you access to experienced, specialised practitioners who can provide everything you need to help get your teachers off to a great start through our Early Career Framework programmes and Appropriate Body services.
Ensuring that early career teachers (ECTs) are nurtured and supported is important not just for retention, but so that they become confident and resilient teachers who are great at their job and who enjoy it.
The new Early Career Training Programme
From September 2025 Early Career framework (ECF) training has evolved to become the new Early Career Training Programme (ECTP). The new ECTP will integrate the existing Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Core Content Framework and the Early Career Framework (ECF) for a smoother transition into teaching.
From September 2025 Early Career Framework (ECF) training will evolve to become the new Early Career Teaching Programme (ECTP).
The new ECTP will integrate the existing Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Core Content Framework and the Early Career Framework (ECF) for a smoother transition into teaching. This new approach will focus on more on subject-specific training, better support for teaching students with SEND, and reducing mentor workload with less time commitment and more flexible resources.
The two-year support period for new teachers remains, ensuring they continue to receive structured training and professional development.
Key features of the new ECTP:
-
Integrated training & support
Combines Initial Teacher Training and the Early Career Framework into a single, streamlined programme. -
Stronger subject-specific focus
More tailored training based on subject and stage to improve teaching quality. -
Better SEND training
Enhanced support for supporting students with SEND. -
Reduced mentor workload from 2 years to 1 year
More flexible and accessible resources to make mentoring more manageable. -
Additional curriculum content
Including early cognitive development, SEND and oracy. -
Greater flexibility
Adaptable materials and training to fit different school contexts and teacher needs. -
Clearer progression pathways
Provides a smoother transition from training to full-time teaching. -
Enhanced professional development
More structured opportunities for career growth from the start.
What is changing for ECT Year 1?
-
Diagnostic tool at the start of each module
-
Two versions of each session: Core and Summary + Stretch
-
Additional exemplification – EY, Pri, Sec, Post-16, Special Schools
-
Changes to content to cover new statements
-
Seminars: More collaboration
What is changing for ECT Year 2?
-
Diagnostic tool at the start of each Development Cycle
-
Reduction of number of Development Cycles (was 1 per half-term, now 1 per term)
-
Streamline development cycle steps • Enhanced guidance to support ECTs to select a focus area
-
More space for collaboration and subject specificity
