Changes to the Early Career Framework – from September 2025
Changes to the Early Career Framework – The term early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) replaces ECF-based training and induction from 2025
From September 2025, the DfE are introducing the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) which will revise and improve the delivery of the ECF programme, maintaining the grounding in evidence, to ensure the highest standards of professional development for new teachers.
ECT training programmes will be based on the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), an updated framework combing the ITT Core Content Framework and ECF. As per the current arrangements, schools can either use a DfE-funded lead provider to provide and deliver training (we call this ‘provider-led’) or design and deliver training themselves (we call this ‘school-led’) – the vast majority of schools now use a provider led route – such as those written by Ambition or EDT – which are then delivered by teaching school hubs, such as the Five Counties Teaching School Hubs Alliance..
Updates to the provider-led programmes for September 2025 include:
• More tailored training content for ECTs – diagnostic tools to allow ECTs to focus on areas they most need to develop.
• Greater contextualisation – more contextualisation to subject and phase including materials and resources to support teaching pupils with SEND.
• Pitch and tone – providers will pitch their programmes in recognition that most ECTs will begin their training with a greater understanding of the framework from their ITT
• Reduced mentor workload – shortening the training requirement from 2 years to 1 year
More opportunities for ECTs to work on aspects that are context specific to their school and their unique roles
ECTs and mentors who started training before September 2025
ECTs or mentors who started training before 1st September 2025 should continue to use the same course and materials. If these ECTs have not completed their training programme by August 2027: they will be expected to receive training based on the ITTECF from September 2027 for the remainder of their ECTE.
Information and guidance on GOV.UK has been updated. As a Teaching School Hub, we will be recording a briefing going into further detail about the changes (with specific information related to our two Lead Provider’s programmes) which we will send out to all schools and Induction tutors later in June.