Mentors
What is the Early Career Framework?
The ECF programme is a two year package of professional development, designed to help ECTs transition from their Initial Teaching Training and to thrive as new teachers in the profession. It is also a structured professional development programme for mentors, supporting them to develop their knowledge of both effective coaching strategies alongside the evidence base underpinning the ECF.
The role of ECF mentor
The role of ECF mentor and the responsibilities which go alongside it are different to those of an NQT mentor.
ECF mentors guide their ECTs through 12 blocks of evidence-led content, supporting them to develop their knowledge and skills to be successful in the early stages of their career. Through discussion, practice and reflection, mentors encourage ECTs to identify their own action steps to further develop their classroom practice and subject specific pedagogy.
More information can be found in your welcome pack, which your Induction Tutor will share with you.
What should my ECT be doing each half term?
Each half term, ECTs should:
1. Work through the self-study content on the EDT portal during their ECT time including watching any webinars.
2. Meet with their mentor once a week* to discuss the evidence base introduced in the self-study materials and identify next steps to move their practice forward. *Once a fortnight in the second year.
3. Attend face to face and / or virtual training sessions with other ECTs from North Birmingham once per term.
4. Complete the survey at the end of the block and reflect on their progress and action points.
What should I be doing each half term?
At the start of each half term, Mentors should:
1. Log into the EDT portal and download the content for the weekly meetings.
2. Watch the webinar and read the reading and reflection document which shares the evidence base for each block. There is also a short podcast available for each block, giving mentors the option to develop their understanding of the ECF evidence base through multiple channels.
3. Prepare for the weekly* mentor meeting by reading through the proposed content.
*Once a fortnight in the second year.
4. Meet with their ECT using the content from the portal to structure the meeting.
5. Mentors might choose to do some informal lesson drop-ins to identify the next development steps for their ECT.
6. Attend the virtual / face to face training sessions delivered by the Arthur Terry TSH, North Birmingham to further develop their understanding of mentoring and the ECF evidence base.
How do I access the online platform?
All of the content for your weekly mentor meetings, any webinars and reading and reflection documents can be found by visiting ECF: DP Dashboard (eddevtrust.com).
Once your Induction Tutor has registered you on the DfE portal, EDT will send you a user name and password. These will be sent from ecf@educationdevelopmenttrust.com. Please check your junk, clutter or other inboxes if you haven’t seen these details.
If you haven’t received your user name and password for this site please attempt to re-set your login details. You can do this by visiting ECF: DP Dashboard (eddevtrust.com), entering your school e-mail address as your username and then click re-set password. If this doesn’t work, please e-mail ect@atlp.org.uk
When will the mentor training events take place?
Mentors joining the programme in January 2024.
Mentors joining the ECF programme in January 2024, will follow the new mentor training programme. This has been re-designed following feedback from mentors and leaders within schools in order to offer additional flexibility for mentors.
When mentors receive their login details from EDT, they will be signposted to the mentor induction programme available on the EDT online platform. This is made up of a series of webinars and short information videos supporting you to find out more about the ECF programme, the principles of instructional coaching as well as providing guidance on how to navigate the platform. Mentors should work through this programme at their own pace. We’ve designed a handy guide to the online induction programme, supporting you to access the right content at the right time.
In addition to the online induction programme, mentors will also attend six training events over the course of the two years; one each term. These events take place at the beginning of each half term, providing you with an opportunity to develop your understanding of the evidence base and to develop your own mentoring practice.
January 23-24 Cohort – Mentor Training Events
If you started working with an ECT in January 2024, you are in the January 23-24 mentor cohort. Details of your events can be found below.
| Group Name | Date | Location |
| January 23-24 Mentor | 25th January 2024 9.30am – 12.30pm | The Arthur Terry School B74 4RZ |
September 23-24 Cohort – Mentor Training Events
If you started working with an ECT in September 2023, you are in the September 23-24 mentor cohort. Details of your events can be found below.
| Group Name | Autumn Term Face-to-face | Spring Term Virtual Event | Summer Term Virtual Event |
| Freddo and Twirl | 18th September 2023 9.00 am- 12.00pm Prince Albert High School, B42 2TU | 10th January 2024 9.00am – 11.00am | 11th April 2024 9.00am – 11.00am |
| Dairy Milk | 18th September 2023 Note change of time 1.00pm – 4.00pm Prince Albert High School, B42 2TU | 10th January 2024 2.00pm – 4.00pm | 11th April 2024 2.00pm – 4.00pm |
| Bournville | 19th September 2023 1.00pm – 4.00pm King Edwards School B29 7LG | 10th January 2024 2.00pm – 4.00pm | 11th April 2024 2.00pm – 4.00pm |
| Mini Eggs, Buttons Crunchie | 20th September 2023 9.00am – 12.00am Prince Albert High School, B42 2TU | 11th January 2024 9.00am – 11.00am | 16th April 2024 9.00am – 11.00am |
| Wispa | 20th September 2023 1.00pm – 4.00pm Prince Albert High School, B42 2TU | 11th January 2024 2.00pm – 4.00pm | 16th April 2024 2.00pm – 4.00pm |
Mentors who joined the programme before September 2023
Over the course of the two year ECF programme, mentors attend three face-to-face training events. One in the first term of the programme, one in the second term of the programme and then a final event in the sixth term of the programme. There is also a virtual session on zoom at the start of the second year of the programme.
Mentors tend to be in the same cohort as their ECT. If you are a ‘replacement mentor’ (taking over the role from someone else) you will join the same cohort as your predecessor.
April 21-22 Cohort
During the Spring Term 23-24, your ECT will be working through blocks 11 and 12. During this term, you will attend the final mentor training session, giving you an opportunity to reflect on you own professional development as well as the progress your ECT has made.
This session will take place on 6th February 2024 between 9.00am and 12.00pm. This will be a virtual session on zoom.
September 22 – 23 Cohort
During the Spring Term 23-24, your ECT will be working through blocks 9 and 10 of the programme. There are no mentor training sessions for you to attend this term.
January 22-23 Cohort
During the Spring Term 23-24, your ECT will be working through blocks 7 and 8 of the programme. There are no mentor training sessions for you to attend this term.
April 22-23 Cohort
During the spring Term 23-24, your ECT will be working through blocks 5 and 6 of the programme. There are no mentor training sessions for you to attend this term.
Who do I contact if I have a problem?
Speak to your Induction Tutor in your school.
If they can’t answer your question, please e-mail our ECF Team ect@atlp.org.uk
