An Early Career Teacher is a teacher in their first two years of teaching after being awarded qualified teacher status (QTS). 

As an ECT (previously called NQT or Newly Qualified Teacher), you receive additional support and mentoring during your first two years of teaching, which is known as the induction period. 

This article outlines what to expect from your ECT induction, how you pass it and where it can be completed. 

What is the ECT induction for? 

The ECT induction years are designed to offer new teachers support and guidance in their professional development after gaining QTS. 

The induction period is designed to ensure that you receive the right development, support and monitoring as you begin to teach. 

Throughout this period, you will have a slightly reduced timetable and will work towards demonstrating that you have met all of the relevant professional standards to become an effective teacher. 

What is the ECT entitlement? 

As of September 2025, the ECF-based training and induction has been renamed to the . The entitlements of the scheme have not changed. 

All ECTs should be assigned a mentor to support them. The DfE states: “mentor support covers the ECT’s training programme and the wider aspects of their development as a new teacher”.

The ECTE includes the right to a reduction in teaching time to complete ECT activities such as training and mentoring – this is a 10% reduction in your first year, and a 5% in your second. 

You are also entitled to undertake short-term supply work within a period of five years after gaining QTS, even if you have not completed your ECT induction. 

Under the ECTE, you should also have progress reviews and be formally assessed against the teachers’ standards, which your school should arrange. 

How long does it take to pass your ECT years? 

The ECT induction period is currently two school years, which can be completed on a full or part-time basis (but must total two full school years, so doing your induction part-time means it’ll take longer). 

There is no set deadline on the completion of your ECT years following the award of QTS – but your ECT period must be completed before you can continue in a permanent qualified post in a maintained or special school. 

How do I pass my ECT years? 

Throughout your induction years, you will be observed regularly (either by your induction tutor or another suitable person who holds QTS) and you will have regular meetings to discuss your development and any areas of concern. 

In the final term of your first and second years, you will be formally assessed against the Teachers’ Standards. Formal assessment should be informed by evidence gathered during your progress reviews and prior assessments – so ECTs don’t need to produce anything new for the assessment; it should be based on your work as a teacher. 

Following the final assessment at the end of your induction, your headteacher or principal will provide a recommendation as to whether your performance against the Teachers’ Standards is satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or whether an extension should be considered. 

If your performance is deemed satisfactory, you have passed your ECT years. 

While the idea of passing or failing your induction might feel daunting, the guidance states that ECTs should be kept up to date on their progress and “there should be nothing unexpected”. 

This means you should be aware of how you are doing and shouldn’t fail if you’ve had no prior notice that your performance falls short – so if you don’t pass your ECT years, you should have already been made aware of where you need to improve and had opportunities to do so. 

Can my ECT induction be completed in any school? 

You can complete your ECT induction in most schools around the country. This includes maintained schools, academies, independent schools, free schools, alternative provision, nursery schools, special schools, further education (FE) settings and pupil referral units. 

ECT induction can also be completed in any school or further education setting in Wales where an induction period can be served under Welsh regulations. 

You can also undergo induction at an independent school overseas, as long as it has been inspected by a DfE-accredited inspectorate within the past six years against the standards for inspection of British schools overseas (and met all these standards). 

For nurseries and children’s centres, you must teach classes of pupils predominantly aged three and over and have a headteacher who can make the recommendation against the relevant standards. 

For FE institutions, no more than 10% of your timetable should be spent teaching classes of pupils over the age of 19. 

Useful resources for ECTs 

You can find more than 900,000 classroom resources on ����Vlog Resources – all made by teachers, for teachers. 

To help you in your first two years, we’ve put together a collection of guides, organisers, templates and trackers for ECTs. 

Resources for ECTs

Originally published September 2019, updated August 2026