Early Career Framework and ECT Induction Explained

The Early Career Framework (ECF) is the training framework that supported new teachers in England through their first two years of teaching. Since 1 September 2025 it has been replaced by the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), and the package of support built on it is now called the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE). Statutory induction for early career teachers (ECTs) still lasts the equivalent of two school years, is mentored, and ends with a decision by an appropriate body. This guide covers England only, and reflects the Department for Education (DfE) guidance last updated on 9 June 2026.

What happened to the Early Career Framework?

According to the DfE's statutory induction guidance, from 1 September 2025 the ECF was superseded by the updated Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework, and schools are expected to deliver a programme of training and support based on it. GOV.UK describes the ITTECF as setting out what trainee and early career teachers need to know and know how to do at the start of their careers. It says initial teacher training and the early career entitlement remain distinct phases in England, with the minimum entitlement for both captured in a single framework.

The same guidance says that from September 2025 the term Early Career Teacher Entitlement replaces the phrase "ECF-based training and induction". The DfE states this simplifies the terminology and does not add any new requirements to statutory induction. So if you see "ECF" in older job adverts, policies or school websites, it generally refers to what is now the ECTE.

Who has to do induction?

The statutory guidance, Induction for early career teachers (England), says that subject to listed exemptions, a qualified teacher cannot be employed as a teacher in a relevant school in England unless they have satisfactorily completed an induction period. "Relevant school" includes maintained schools, maintained nursery schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units and local authority maintained children's centres.

It is worth being precise about academies. The guidance says there is no legal requirement to complete induction if an ECT intends to work solely in the independent sector, an academy, a free school, a British school overseas, an independent nursery school or a further education institution. Those settings are not required to offer statutory induction, but they can choose to, and if they do they must follow the 2012 induction regulations and have regard to the guidance. Many ECTs in academies therefore still complete induction, but it is the setting's choice.

The guidance also says there is no set time limit for starting or completing induction, apart from a limit that applies to short-term supply teaching of less than one term. Qualified teacher status (QTS) cannot be lost because induction takes longer.

How long is ECT induction?

The statutory guidance says induction is the full-time equivalent of two school years, usually six terms. Part-time ECTs serve the same full-time equivalent, so someone working half-time would need four years. The period can be reduced to a minimum of one term, as agreed with the appropriate body, based on previous teaching experience, and it can be extended for certain absences, such as statutory leave. The DfE added neonatal care leave to the list of statutory leave exempt from automatic extension in April 2025.

The ECT entitlement at a glance

Reduced timetable

In a relevant school, the headteacher must make sure the ECT has a reduced timetable. In the first year an ECT must not teach more than 90% of the timetable of the school's existing teachers on the main pay range, and in the second year no more than 95%. This is in addition to the planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time all teachers receive. The DfE says the time should be used for induction activities, including ITTECF training and mentoring. ECTs serving induction in academies, free schools and independent schools must also have a reduced timetable on a comparable basis.

Training: provider-led or school-led

The guidance says schools can choose between two approaches to deliver training based on the ITTECF. The first is a funded provider-led programme, where a DfE-accredited provider designs and delivers face-to-face and online training to ECTs and their mentors. The second is for the school to deliver its own programme, which must cover the content of the framework in full, with the option of using freely available, DfE-accredited school-led materials. The headteacher chooses the approach that suits the school.

Induction tutor and mentor roles

These are two separate jobs. The induction tutor is expected to hold QTS and to provide regular monitoring and support and coordinate assessment. The mentor, also expected to hold QTS, provides regular mentoring and should where possible have experience of the ECT's subject or phase. The DfE says the roles should normally be held by different people. Only in exceptional circumstances can one person do both, and then the school should make sure mentoring is not confused with assessment. Mentoring sessions are expected to be timetabled within teaching hours, because schools are funded for the time off timetable for ECTs and mentors.

Reviews and assessments

ECTs are exempt from normal appraisal during induction. Instead, their teaching is observed at regular intervals, with brief written feedback, and the induction tutor holds progress reviews in each term when no formal assessment takes place. Formal assessments are carried out by the headteacher or induction tutor (not the mentor, unless they are also the induction tutor) in the final term of each year. Judgements are made against the Teachers' Standards, not the ITTECF, which the guidance says should not be used as an assessment tool. A copy of the assessment report goes to the appropriate body within 10 working days of the final assessment meeting.

Appropriate bodies

An ECT cannot start induction until an appropriate body has been agreed. Teaching school hubs, and organisations the Secretary of State has determined (currently the Independent Schools Teacher Induction Panel for its members, and Educational Success Partners for eligible British schools overseas), can act in this role. The April 2025 update removed local authorities from the list, as they can no longer be appropriate bodies. The appropriate body checks that an ITTECF-based programme is in place, may charge reasonable fees agreed in advance, and within 20 working days of the headteacher's recommendation decides whether the ECT has passed, needs an extension or has failed. An ECT who is extended or fails can appeal to the Teaching Regulation Agency within 20 working days. Failing induction means the teacher can no longer be employed in a maintained school, but it does not remove QTS.

Recent changes to know about

• 1 September 2025: the ITTECF replaced the ECF, and "Early Career Teacher Entitlement" replaced "ECF-based training and induction".
• April 2025: local authorities removed as appropriate bodies; neonatal care leave added to statutory leave exempt from automatic extension.
• 9 June 2026: guidance updated to reflect the Ofsted inspection framework from 10 November 2025, plus clarifications on start dates, absences in interim assessments, and lost or erroneous records.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Early Career Framework still in use?

Not under that name. The ITTECF took effect in September 2025 and superseded the ECF, though the two-year structure of support remains.

How long is the ECT induction period?

The full-time equivalent of two school years, usually six terms, unless reduced or extended as the guidance allows.

Do academy teachers have to do induction?

Not by law. Academies can choose to offer it, and if they do they follow the induction regulations and guidance.

Can a mentor assess an ECT?

Formal assessments are made by the headteacher or induction tutor, not the mentor, unless the mentor is also the induction tutor.

Does the entitlement affect pay?

Get Into Teaching, the DfE service, says the entitlement does not affect pay or progression opportunities.

Where to go next

New teachers also need to be confident in safeguarding from day one. Our guide to annual safeguarding training under Keeping Children Safe in Education covers what every member of school staff needs, and the CPD hub lists wider development options.

This article gives general information only and is not legal or regulatory advice. Induction rules are set out in statutory guidance that is updated from time to time, so check the current version on GOV.UK or with your appropriate body.