Delivering a boost to early career teachers When the early career framework (ECF) was rolled out nationwide in 2021 it was heralded as an initiative that would have a profound impact on the professional development and support available to new teachers in the first two years of their career. Until that point continuing professional development and mentoring was down to the actions of individual schools and trusts and for some new teachers it was often a case of sink or swim. The ECF is helping to change that in a time when the retention of early career teachers (ECTs) remains a key priority. Best Practice Network is playing a major role in the delivery of this programme across the country. Now, in the second year of its national rollout, BPN’s partners are delivering training to more than 10,000 early career teachers and mentors.
13 | Best Practice Network
BPN evaluations of the ECF programme show that participants like it. Of the 98 ECT groups completing a January 2023 evaluation, facilitation has been rated particularly highly, with more than nine out of 10 participants giving facilitation a positive rating.
“We know this is having a significant impact on new teachers and their children in the classroom,” says Kelly McKay, Director of the Early Career Framework at BPN. That’s being echoed by BPN’s partners. One of the largest is Chiltern Learning Trust, which encompasses two large teaching school hubs covering north and east Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
