How to review your early career teacher (ECT) induction policy

Use our guidance and recommended questions to help you confidently approve your school's or trust's early career teacher (ECT) induction policy.

Updated
on 2 May 2025
See updates
Ref: 38511
Statutory/mandatory for:
Maintained schools
Academies
Free schools
Independent schools
Pupil referral units
Contents
  1. Key facts
  2. What this policy needs to do
  3. 4 key questions to ask school leaders
  4. Model policy for reference

What this policy needs to do

If your school has a specific ECT induction policy, it must comply with:

It's not your job to cross-reference your policy with these bits of guidance and legislation. But you should expect your headteacher to have done so.

You can download an ECT induction model policy, for reference, in the last section of this article.

Remember, it's your headteacher's responsibility to update this policy – as a governor, your role is to review any changes.

Set out the process of ECT induction clearly

The statutory requirements to be provided for the ECT (i.e. reduced teaching timetable of no more than 90% in the first year) How ECTs will be supported – e.g. with an induction mentor, induction tutor and constructive feedback How the ECT's progress will