Guidance

Early career teacher entitlement: changes for 2025

Published 22 April 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-career-teacher-entitlement/early-career-teacher-entitlement-changes-for-2025--2

Changes for 2025

The changes for early career teacher (ECT) and mentor training from September 2025 are that:

  • the updated framework includes updates to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), high-quality oral language (oracy), early cognitive development and evidence literacy
  • the term early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) replaces early career framework (ECF)-based training and induction
  • ECT training programmes will be based on the initial teacher training and early career framework – an updated framework based on a combination of initial teacher training (ITT), core content framework (CCF) and the ECF

The following applies to schools on Department for Education (DfE)-funded provider-led training programmes:

  • training providers will provide ‘diagnostic tools’ to help mentors tailor content for their ECTs
  • training providers will provide session materials for mentors
  • mentor training has been reduced to one year (for new mentors)
  • new mentors can reduce their training hours if they’ve had previous mentor training from ITT programmes
  • training programmes will include more content on adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND
  • training programme materials will include examples for different phases, settings and subjects

ECTs and mentors who start training before 1 September 2025

ECTs or mentors who start training before 1 September 2025 should:

  • continue to use the same course and materials until August 2027
  • move to training based on the initial teacher training and early career framework from 1 September 2027 if they’ve not completed by 31 August 2027

ECTs and mentors that registered for training in 2024 or earlier, but have not yet started, are eligible for 2025 training programmes.

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