Mentors: responsibilities for early career teacher entitlement
Published 22 April 2025
Applies to England
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Mentors’ responsibilities
The early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) is a 2-year programme that supports early career teachers (ECTs) when they start their teaching career.
If you’re an ECT mentor, you’ll need to:
- meet regularly with your ECT to provide support and feedback
- help your ECT relate their training to their specific subject area, phase and context
- arrange informal classroom drop-in sessions
- take prompt and appropriate action if your ECT is having difficulties
Mentors can receive training and time off timetable for training and mentoring activities.
What mentors are not responsible for
Mentors are not responsible for assessing an ECT. Your focus is on supporting the ECT’s professional development during their ECTE.
Your school’s headteacher and induction tutor are responsible for assessing the ECT against the teachers’ standards.
Mentor training
You could get 20 hours of mentor training if you’re a new mentor and your school is working with a Department for Education (DfE) funded training provider. Training is delivered over one year, which is about 6 to 7 hours per term.
You can only do this training, and receive funded time off timetable for it, once. However, you can be a mentor as many times as you like. You’ll have access to mentor training materials and resources to support mentoring sessions while you are a mentor.
You can continue your training even if your ECT transfers school or withdraws part way through their entitlement.
If you have previous mentor training
Lead providers can tailor ECTE mentoring training programmes if you:
- are currently receiving mentor training on an initial teacher training (ITT) programme
- have had ITT mentor training since 2024
Time off timetable for training and mentoring activities
You’ll get time off timetable for your mentor training and for supporting ECTs.
If your school uses a training provider, you’ll typically deliver mentoring sessions:
- one hour per week in your ECT’s first year
- one hour every 2 weeks in your ECT’s second year
You should try to schedule your ECT mentoring sessions during teaching hours.
In exceptional circumstances, you might be asked to meet with your ECT outside of teaching hours.
If you have concerns about mentoring
Speak to your school’s induction tutor if you have concerns about your role as a mentor, including:
- your time off timetable
- your mentor entitlements
- an ECT’s training or progress
If your ECT has concerns or difficulties
You should support your ECT if they’re struggling with their training.
If you’re unable to help your ECT or they have problems with any other aspects of their ECTE, speak to your school’s induction tutor, for example if:
- they’re struggling with their training and you’ve been unable to resolve the issue
- they have concerns about their time off timetable or mentor support
If your induction tutor cannot help them, you should advise your ECT to speak to your school’s appropriate body.