Guidance

Early career framework (ECF) based induction year 2 time off timetable conditions of grant

Updated 25 November 2024

Applies to England

1.  Introduction

The early career framework (ECF) based induction programme requires 2 years of participation by early career teachers (ECTs). Year 1 and year 2 refer respectively to the first year and second year of induction for an early career teacher (ECT).

Funding to support ECTs in year 1 of their induction, to cover the cost of 10% off timetable, should come from core funding. Schools receive their core funding through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). We calculate this using the national funding formula (NFF). This funding is primarily based on pupil numbers and characteristics and is allocated by the local authority.

ECF year 2 time off timetable funding is paid after the end of the summer of the second year of the ECT’s induction. This funding covers the cost of giving each ECT in year 2 of induction:

• 5% off timetable for induction activities including ECF based training and mentor sessions

• a dedicated mentor, based on 20 hours of mentoring in year 2 of induction

This funding is linked to the ECT and paid to the school who has registered the ECT as undergoing their ECF training at that school in year 2 of their induction.

2.  Proportionate funding

Funding for eligible ECTs working part-time, or for those who start training later in the academic year, for example January, will be paid in full after the summer of the academic year where the eligibility criteria is met. Funding may be used to support these eligible ECTs beyond the academic year, and it is for the school to decide how this funding is managed.

Where an ECT moves to another school during the second year of their induction, funding will be allocated to the school where the ECT is currently teaching and is registered on the Department for Education (DfE) manage training for early career teachers service at the end of August. It is the responsibility of the ECT’s current school to discuss with their previous school to agree how this funding is managed.

3.  Eligibility

3.1 Eligible schools and establishments

Schools and establishments eligible for DfE funding include:

• state-funded schools

• further education (FE) providers

• sixth form colleges

• children’s centres

• qualifying nursery provision within maintained schools

• maintained and non-maintained special schools

• 16 to 19 academies and secure 16 to 19 academies

• secure children’s homes

• independent schools that receive Section 41 funding

3.2 Eligible early career teachers (ECTs)

Schools and establishments will be eligible for DfE funding if they employ an ECT who:

• work in one of the schools and establishments listed above

• hold qualified teacher status (QTS)

• are registered as being in their second year of their induction after 1 September 2021

Schools and establishments who employ ECTs with qualified teacher learning and skills status (QTLS) are not eligible for DfE funding, because they are exempt from statutory induction.

4. How DfE checks the eligibility of ECTs

All schools and establishments choosing to follow the delivery option to use a lead provider or deliver your own training using DfE accredited materials are required to register their ECT(s) on DfE’s manage training for early career teachers service to receive the funding. The school or establishment must also register their ECT with an appropriate body and the appropriate body for the ECT will also have to register the induction with the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). As part of the registration process, we validate the ECT details provided against their details in the TRA records.

In academic year 2023 to 2024, schools and establishments choosing to follow the delivery option to design and deliver their own ECF based training will not be required to use the DfE service. DfE will identify ECTs via the TRA records and school workforce census (SWC). For the small number of schools and establishments who are not eligible to complete the SWC, DfE will communicate directly with these bodies to identify eligible ECTs.

5. Funding

Eligible schools and establishments will receive funding in arrears to cover the cost of giving each ECT in year 2 of induction:

• 5% off timetable for induction activities including ECF based training and mentor sessions

• a dedicated mentor, based on 20 hours of mentoring in year 2 of induction

DfE makes ECF year 2 time off timetable payments directly to schools and establishments, or to local authorities to pay maintained schools, paid in full after the summer of the academic year where the eligibility criteria is met.

The funding amount is calculated using the average hourly rate for ECTs and mentors, and will differ by region:

Year 2 funding	England (excluding the London area)	Inner London area	Outer London area	Fringe area
Rounded cost per ECT	£1,400	£1,700	£1,600	£1,500
Rounded cost per mentor	£1,000	£1,200	£1,000	£1,000
Total	£2,400	£2,900	£2,600	£2,500

For those choosing to use a lead provider or deliver your own training using DfE accredited materials, we will collect data on ECTs through DfE’s manage training for early career teachers service.

5.1 Payments

The payment will be made in arrears for the majority of year 2 ECTs, in full after the summer of the academic year where the eligibility criteria is met. These payments are based on eligible ECTs recorded through DfE’s manage training for early career teachers service. Therefore, it is essential that your school submits accurate and up to date information about ECTs to the service to ensure payments are received.

Schools can find more information about how to submit and update ECT information.

Schools do not need to do anything else to receive this payment. Schools and local authorities will receive this funding as part of their normal payments from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

For local authority maintained schools, the funding must be made available by the local authority to the school irrespective of the existence of any deficit relating to the expenditure of the school’s budget share. The funding is not part of schools’ budget shares and is not part of the individual school’s budget. It is not to be counted for the purpose of calculating the minimum funding guarantee.

For year 2 ECTs following a non-standard induction or when their induction does not start in September, payments will be made in full as a combination of arrears and advance payments, after the summer of the academic year where the eligibility criteria is met.

For ECTs who serve extensions and, therefore, require additional terms of induction after the standard induction period, no further grant funding is available. If eligible, access to funded training materials via lead providers continues until the ECT has completed their induction.

If you think your school should have received this payment but has not and you have confirmed that the ECT was registered on the manage training for early career teachers service by the end of August, and the eligibility criteria has been met, please email continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk  to let us know.

6.  Variation

These conditions of grant may be altered at any time. Participating schools and establishments will be notified of this through existing channels.

7.  Recovery of funding

This funding is being provided under sections 14 to 16 of the Education Act 2002 and we reserve the right to audit the expenditure.

We may seek to recover funding that has been paid in error or has not been used for the intended purpose.

Recoveries will be made by invoice or by offsetting the amount against subsequent payments due from DfE.

The recipient must notify DfE immediately via the continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk mailbox if it becomes aware of any instance of error, suspected fraud or financial irregularity in the use of the funds.

8.  Assurance

We have a responsibility to make sure that public funds are properly managed in line with these grant conditions. As payment will be made in arrears, we reserve the right to ask schools to confirm that the money has been or will be spent in the way intended. Acceptance of the funding will be taken as confirmation.

Schools should keep some record of this expenditure such as a receipt for classroom cover, or a timetable for the ECT(s) and mentors involved, but we will not mandate what form this record should take, and trust school leaders to use their judgement.

We reserve the right to conduct light-touch, proportionate assurance such as spot checks with individual schools, asking for sight of such records.