Guidance

Initial Teacher Training (ITT) provider support

Keep in touch with ITT developments by reading the provider updates and attending your regional provider networks.

This guidance was withdrawn on

Information about the Initial Teacher Training Advisory Group (ITTAG) remains correct. Sign up to the Teacher Recruitment Bulletin for ITT provider, regional network and school-led network updates. Updated ITT provider support information for newly and established accredited schools and training providers is available on the Initial teacher training (ITT): accreditation and support page.

Overview

The Department for Education (DfE) provides support to accredited ITT providers by:

  • linking with providers through the ITT provider networks
  • hosting ITT advisory group meetings
  • keeping you up-to-date with ITT operational and policy decisions through the ITT provider update and online support community
  • arranging support for newly accredited providers

ITT provider update

The ITT provider update is sent by email from DfE. It contains details of policy and operational announcements, DfE contacts and details of up and coming events.

Regional networks

The regional provider networks consist of accredited ITT providers from across each region. Each regional network is chaired by an elected provider representative, who, through this role, becomes a member of the ITT advisory group (ITTAG). The networks offer expert operational advice to DfE through the chairs of the group and providers work together to share expertise on recruitment and provision on a regional basis. They do this by:

  • sharing good practice and providing support between providers
  • offering feedback on policies and communications between DfE, providers and schools
  • communicating regional needs and responses to DfE

Procedures and organisation

Meeting dates and standing agenda items will be agreed by the chairs and DfE at the start of each academic year.

Regional network meetings are held termly, followed by a national meeting of the chairs group (ITTAG). Chairs will feedback discussions, outcomes, and information from the previous term’s ITTAG meetings to network members.

Chairs will inform their networks of the outcomes of any other working groups who may have an impact on their work.

Join your local ITT provider network

To find out how to join, contact:

Performance team

Initial Teacher Training Advisory Group (ITTAG)

The advisory group is made up of:

  • chairs elected by the members of the regional networks from each ITT region
  • representatives from the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers
  • representatives from the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers

The group shares policy information, best practice and provides expert advice to DfE on ITT. They do this by:

  • consulting on a regional basis with providers and schools to highlight aspects of policy implementation
  • supporting effective communication between DfE and the regional networks
  • communicating regional needs and responses to DfE in a strategic manner
  • involvement in sub-committees for consultation with DfE on areas of policy and delivery

ITT provider support community

This community provides support and aims to improve practice for ITT providers.

Information, resources and notices are available on the Knowledge hub. This is a restricted online community for ITT providers only, to:

  • provide mutual support
  • discuss relevant issues
  • access the latest information and guidance for ITT

To register for the community:

  • register with Knowledge hub
  • search for “ITT provider support community” to become a member

Recently accredited provider support

We provide additional support to recently accredited providers:

  • workshops to help you understand how our funding is allocated, our data requirements and how you can work towards providing high quality training
  • arrange quality assurance visits from a team of ITT experts who will visit you on 3 occasions:
    • following accreditation
    • in your first year of provision
    • in your second year of provision (prior to your first Ofsted inspection)

The visits are supportive and help you to reflect on the quality of your provision. They concentrate on improving practice to ensure high quality outcomes for trainees.

Contact us

Performance team

Updates to this page

Published 3 April 2014
Last updated 22 October 2015 + show all updates
  1. ITT provider update for October 2015 now available.

  2. Issue 8: ITT provider update published.

  3. Issue 7 of the ITT provider update added.

  4. New provider update for October

  5. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page