Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE)

The Early Career Teacher Entitlement supports early career teachers (ECTs) with professional development throughout their two year induction period.  

Designed to help ECTs develop their practice, knowledge and skills, and ECTE includes:

  • An Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) for ECTs

  • Dedicated regular support from a school-based mentor

  • time off timetable for ECTs and Mentors

  • a separate training programme for new mentors (if using a DfE funded lead provider)

  • regular progress reviews and 2 formal assessments against the teachers' standards 

From September 2025 onwards the ECTE replaces the ECF-based Training and Induction.  Built on the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) it develops the knowledge, skills and behaviours that support ECTs to meet the teachers’ standards.

More information

Early Career Teaching Programme (ECTP)

Schools now have two options in how to provide the Early Career Training Programme:

  • Provider-led (DfE funded)
    Schools can choose to partner with a Lead Provider and local Delivery Partners who will design and deliver a programme of face to face and online training to ECTs and their mentors. See below for detail of the ECTP for Gloucestershire

  • School-led (no funding)
    Schools can choose to develop and deliver their own training programme based on the ITTECF, fully covering all aspects of the framework. For more information click here.

Early Career Teaching Programme for Gloucestershire

Working in conjunction with Balcarras Teaching School Hub, Odyssey Teaching School Hub have partnered with UCL Institute of Education to deliver the ECTP for Gloucestershire and surrounding areas. Funded by the DfE and free to schools, this programme is a robust, research-informed training that supports ECTs, focussing on building foundational knowledge, reflective practice, and inquiry-led professional development.

  • UCL IOE is ranked number one globally for Education in the QS World University Rankings, and were judged as outstanding in all areas with inspectors noting how UCL IOE …… quote needed

    • High-quality professional development informed by research. 

    • Flexible learning options tailored to individual and school needs.

    • Proven impact on professional growth, and classroom practice.

    • UCL Ofsted rating and comment from report

    • Locally-based, expert facilitators who understand the Gloucestershire education landscape. 

    • Face-to-face training, reinforcing peer collaboration and networking. 

    • Personalised, contextually relevant support to ensure ECTs thrive within their school settings. 

Register

What ECTs Say 

  • I have noticed my teaching improving, and that’s really all I can ask for. I’m constantly given opportunities to reflect and improve, which is invaluable

  • This has given me the opportunity to meet new people on the same journey as me. Working together has been fantastic.

  • I’ve gained a lot of confidence in the classroom by following routines and practising techniques from my ECT meetings

Working with us

By working with us, schools can be confident that their ECTs and mentors are receiving consistent, high-quality professional learning experiences, while benefiting from local expertise. Schools that engage with the UCL ECT Programme year-on-year report higher retention rates and greater ECT satisfaction. By ensuring that ECTs develop strong professional identities, reflective capacities, and confidence in their teaching, the programme equips them to succeed in the long term.

Any changes to ECT, Mentor or Induction Tutor details, you must inform us immediately.

Register an ECT on the ECTP for Gloucestershire
Email us and we will get in touch

To fully register your ECT, they must be registered with the DfE via the online portal and with Odyssey via ECT manager.

DfE Registration
ECT manager registration

If your school is new to Odyssey, please email admin@odysseytsh.org and we will get in touch.

Any changes to ECT, Mentor or Induction Tutor details, you must inform us immediately and update via the DfE portal.

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Further information/support

For DfE guidance:

Statutory Induction Guidance for Early Career Teachers,

If you have an ECT or Mentor who was registered before September 2025, please click here – pdf on how it works and actions to take.

Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE)

ECTE changes at a glance

Key changes for ECTs:

  • Diagnostic tools to help tailor topics teachers need the most support with.

  • More content on adaptive teaching and SEND to help teachers support the needs of their pupils.

  • More examples for different phases, settings and subjects

  • An enhanced focus on literacy and oracy

  • A focus on translating research into practice and application of theory in the classroom.