Appropriate Body Services

The DRET Teaching School Hub provides appropriate body service for any ECT commencing their two year induction. The appropriate body will work with schools throughout the two-year induction, to assess that the ECT has been given their statutory entitlements, and that the ECT has performed suitably against the teaching standards. We will also quality assure that the ECT has been given an induction programme that it rooted in the Early Career Framework (ECF).

From September 2023, the Local Authority (North Lincolnshire Council) will no longer take on any new ECTs for ECT Induction and will not provide AB services for these ECTs. This will mean that from September you must register an ECT’s induction with a local Teaching School Hub, such as the DRET Teaching School Hub.

AB Reforms Key Information: Outlines what you need to know and the actions you need to take for current ECTs registered for AB services with the Local Authority and new ECTs from September 2023. This can be found here.
AB Reforms FAQs: Answers to some frequently asked questions from schools regarding the AB reforms can be found here.

The appropriate body recommends that schools follow a fully funded induction programme for their ECTs.

Our Appropriate Body Services

The services we provide as an appropriate body and our tariffs are outlined below.

When schools register an ECT with us, they will be provided with a copy of our Service Level Agreement which must be accepted by schools for us to be able to process a registration with us.

A copy of this agreement can be found by clicking here. This should be read alongside our Appropriate Body handbook (available in the Appropriate Body key documents section below).

Appropriate Body Services	Cost over 2 years	Included
Full Induction Programme	£400	• AB registration • Full Induction Programme with Full Appropriate Body Support Services, support, advice and guidance.
Core Induction Programme	£600	• AB registration • Fidelity check before the start of the induction period by the AB. • Schools to provide detailed breakdown of the programme for years 1 and 2 showing how the ECF statements are sequenced for the induction period. • Additional observation(s)/quality assurance of ECF core induction programme throughout the two years. • Additional support for ECTs not meeting Teacher/Induction Standards
DIY Programme	£1125	• AB registration • Fidelity check before the start of the induction period by the AB. CHECKS TO ENSURE: • ECTs and Mentors receive a programme of support and training based on the ECF induction programme • The induction’s design covers the evidence-based statements in the ECF • ECTs have received planned elements of the induction. • Checks to ensure the materials and sessions are in line with the statutory guidance for induction and meet the ECF standards. • Ensure ECTs fairly and regularly assessed through collection of monitoring reports and formal assessment points at the end of year 1 and 2 of induction and at interim points. • Additional observation(s)/quality assurance of ECF school- designed programme throughout the two years. • Schools to provide detailed breakdown of the programme for years 1 and 2 showing how the ECF statements are sequenced for the induction period year.

Progress Review and Assessment Deadline Dates

For 2022-24 ECTs this is as follows:

Document for Completion	Term	Date
Progress Review 1	1	12/12/22
Progress Review 2	2	24/03/23
Formal Assessment 1	3	14/07/23
Progress Review 3	4	13/12/23
Progress Review 4	5	21/03/24
Formal Assessment 2	6	21/06/24

For 2023-25 ECTs this is as follows:

Document for Completion	Term	Date
Progress Review 1	1	13/12/23
Progress Review 2	2	21/03/24
Formal Assessment 1	3	12/07/24
Progress Review 3	4	13/12/24
Progress Review 4	5	28/03/25
Formal Assessment 2	6	25/06/25

Appropriate Body Services - Key documents

Find in the panel below links to key documents relating to our Appropriate Body Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have devised this area of our website to answer some frequently asked questions from ECTs and Induction Tutors. The guidance below is taken from the Statutory Guidance for Induction.

How do I register for your Appropriate Body Services?

We have a 3 step process to register ECTs for Appropriate Body Services. All three of these must be completed:

1. Please register your ECT with the Teaching School Hub here.

2. You should complete the DfE Registration form here as soon as possible to secure funding.*

3. Please register for Appropriate Body Services, by clicking here and selecting 'Register Your School’.

* You will be required to inform the DfE which cohort your ECT should be registered onto. To help with this please ensure that you are aware of the amount of Induction your ECT has previously served if any. If an ECT has been previously registered with us for the ECF, below would be the cohort choices:

2021 Cohort – Has completed between 4 or 5 terms (Lead Delivery Partner is Ambition)
2022 Cohort – Has completed between 1 term – 3 terms (1 year) of the ECT programme (Lead Delivery Partner is Ambition)
2023 Cohort – Brand new to the ECT programme and has not already completed any element of the programme (Lead Delivery Partner is the NIoT)

Where can I find the latest statutory guidance for the Induction of ECTs?

The statutory guidance for the Induction of ECTs can be found by clicking here. New guidance is due to come into force from September 2023 and can be found in the same link.

Where can our school find support in writing progress reviews and assessments?

We have provided some examples of these to help support Induction Tutors. These are available here.

Progress Reviews

Progress reviews are usually written at the end of Terms 1, 2, 4 and 5. Depending on how far into induction the ECT has progressed, more or less detail may be suitable in progress reviews:

Term 1: it is probably most helpful to concentrate on the teacher’s personal and professional conduct and how well the relationships are working.
Term 2: it is probably most helpful to consider how likely the teacher is to require additional support and consider their progress across each of the Teachers’ Standards, helping to ensure that there are no surprises when they have their first formal assessment in Term 3.
Terms 4 and 5: for teachers who have been consistently on track to meet the Teachers’ Standards, these reviews can afford to be the lightest touch and focus on anything that has emerged to derail progress.

Formal Assessments

Formal assessments are usually written at the end of Years 1 and 2 (Terms 3 and 6). These should be completed by the Induction Tutor.

Evidence for assessments must be drawn from the ECT’s work as a teacher during their induction. To ensure evidence gathering is not burdensome for the ECT, formal assessment meetings should be informed by evidence gathered during progress reviews and assessment periods leading up to the formal assessment. This will consist of existing documents and working documents. There is no need for the ECT to create anything new for the formal assessment, they should draw from their work as a teacher and from their induction programme. Judgements made during the induction period should relate directly to the Teachers’ Standards and should not be made against the ECF.

ECTs should be kept up to date on their progress. There should be nothing unexpected.

The final assessment meeting is at the end of the induction period, and will form the basis of the headteacher’s/principal’s recommendation to the appropriate body as to whether, having completed their induction period, the ECT’s performance against the Teachers’ Standards is satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or whether or not an extension should be considered. This recommendation should be recorded on the final assessment report.

Once assessment reports have been completed, the ECT should add their comments. They should then be signed by the induction tutor, headteacher/principal and the ECT.

What are the reforms to Appropriate Bodies from September 2023?

AB Reforms Key Information: Outlines what you need to know and the actions you need to take for current ECTs registered for AB services with the Local Authority and new ECTs from September 2023. This can be found here.
AB Reforms FAQs: Answers to some frequently asked questions from schools regarding the AB reforms can be found here.

I am an ECT with a concern regarding Induction in my school. What should I do?

Where an ECT has a concern regarding Induction in their school: An ECT is normally expected to raise any concerns about their induction programme with their induction tutor in the first instance. If the matter is not resolved, the ECT may notify us and we will investigate the issues raised.

How does our school report that we have a cause for concern with an ECT?

Where an Induction Tutor has a concern regarding an ECT: Where there are concerns regarding an ECT’s progress against the Teacher’s Standards, in the first instance the Induction Tutor should meet with the ECT to raise the concerns and provide the ECT with an appropriate programme of support to address the concerns.

Where there is a cause for concern of an ECT being deemed at risk of not meeting the Teachers Standards, the Induction Tutor should:

Contact the DRET TSH appropriate body lead to make them aware as soon as possible (this should be reported well in advance and ideally not first reported at the deadline of a progress review or formal assessment).
Meet with the ECT and ensure they are made aware of the concerns and how they will be supported through the school’s programme of support. Suitable timescales to any actions must be provided to the ECT.
Provide copies of the programme of support, agreed with the ECT, to the DRET TSH appropriate body lead.

Also see the schedule: escalation policy/process which can be found in the AB Services Handbook for further detailed steps (available in the Appropriate Body key documents section above).

What happens at the end of the Induction period and what is the final recommendation?

An ECT completes their induction period when they have served:

the full-time equivalent of two standard school years (usually six terms based on a school year of three terms); or
a reduced period of a minimum of one term (as agreed with the DRET TSH Appropriate Body and headteacher) based on previous teaching experience; or
a reduced period of induction for part time teachers covering but not equivalent to two years (as agreed with the appropriate body and headteacher); or
an extension to that period, as a consequence of absences occurring during the period; or
an extension following a decision by the DRET TSH Appropriate Body or the TRA Appeals Body.

The appropriate body makes the final decision as to whether an ECT’s performance against the Teachers’ Standards is satisfactory, drawing on the recommendation of the headteacher.

Within 20 working days of receiving the headteacher’s recommendation, the appropriate body must decide whether the ECT:

has performed satisfactorily against the Teachers’ Standards and thereby satisfactorily completed their induction period; or
requires an extension of the induction period; or
has failed to satisfactorily complete the induction period.

In making this decision the appropriate body must consider the headteacher’s recommendation and all available evidence including any written representations from the ECT.

If the headteacher recommends that an ECT has failed to satisfactorily complete the induction period, the DRET TSH Appropriate Body will arrange a panel meeting to reach their decision. We would expect that where there are causes for concerns, these are raised well in advance with us (following our cause for concern process outlined within our handbook) so that appropriate support can be put into place.

The process we will follow if a headteacher recommends that an ECT has failed to satisfactorily complete the induction period is outlined below and within our handbook:

Within 5 working days of receiving the headteacher’s recommendation, the DRET TSH Appropriate Body will write to the headteacher and the ECT to notify them of the date and time of a panel meeting and invite them to submit any additional written evidence that they may wish to be considered by the panel.
The headteacher and ECT must submit any additional evidence to us for the panel to consider at least 1 working day before the panel meeting has been set.
The headteacher and the ECT will be invited to attend the panel meeting to present their respective cases. The headteacher may be accompanied by a colleague (possibly the induction tutor) and the ECT may be accompanied and/or represented by their union representative. Attendance is optional but must be confirmed no later than 1 full working day before the panel meeting.
Within 3 working days of making the decision at the panel meeting, the DRET TSH Appropriate Body will make written notification of the decision to the ECT; the headteacher (in whose institution the ECT was working at the end of their induction); and the employer. The DRET TSH Appropriate Body will also notify the Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) in the case of decisions to fail or extend the ECT’s induction, and via the termly return for other notifications.
If the panel outcome decides to extend the period of induction or that the ECT has failed to complete their induction period satisfactorily, the DRET TSH Appropriate Body will inform the ECT of their right to appeal against this decision, with the name and address of the Appeals Body at the TRA and the deadline for appeals.
The ECT must notify the TRA that they wish to appeal the decision of the panel within 20 working days, after which the right of appeal expires except in exceptional circumstances.

What is the process at the end of the Induction period for if a Headteacher recommends that an ECT has failed to satisfactorily complete induction?

The process we will follow if a headteacher recommends that an ECT has failed to satisfactorily complete the induction period is outlined below and within our handbook:

Within 5 working days of receiving the headteacher’s recommendation, the DRET TSH Appropriate Body will write to the headteacher and the ECT to notify them of the date and time of a panel meeting and invite them to submit any additional written evidence that they may wish to be considered by the panel.
The headteacher and ECT must submit any additional evidence to us for the panel to consider at least 1 working day before the panel meeting has been set.
The headteacher and the ECT will be invited to attend the panel meeting to present their respective cases. The headteacher may be accompanied by a colleague (possibly the induction tutor) and the ECT may be accompanied and/or represented by their union representative. Attendance is optional but must be confirmed no later than 1 full working day before the panel meeting.
Within 3 working days of making the decision at the panel meeting, the DRET TSH Appropriate Body will make written notification of the decision to the ECT; the headteacher (in whose institution the ECT was working at the end of their induction); and the employer. The DRET TSH Appropriate Body will also notify the Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) in the case of decisions to fail or extend the ECT’s induction, and via the termly return for other notifications.
If the panel outcome decides to extend the period of induction or that the ECT has failed to complete their induction period satisfactorily, the DRET TSH Appropriate Body will inform the ECT of their right to appeal against this decision, with the name and address of the Appeals Body at the TRA and the deadline for appeals.
The ECT must notify the TRA that they wish to appeal the decision of the panel within 20 working days, after which the right of appeal expires except in exceptional circumstances.

What is the guidance on absences, what counts and what doesn't and what is the absence threshold?

The induction period is automatically extended prior to completion when an ECT’s absences per year of induction (or equivalent for part-time teachers) total 30 days or more (with the exception of statutory maternity leave, statutory paternity leave, shared parental leave, statutory adoption leave, or parental bereavement leave).

In these circumstances the relevant year of induction must be extended by the aggregate total of days absent. If the ECT is unable to serve the extension in the same school/institution, the minimum period of employment of one term or equivalent must be served in a new school/institution.

All absences with the exception of statutory maternity leave, statutory paternity leave, shared parental leave, statutory adoption leave, or parental bereavement leave as set out in the Statutory Induction Guidance will count towards this 30 day threshold. Strike action, jury duty or anything that is not referred to in the Statutory Induction Guidance will count towards the absence total.

The school should contact and inform the DRET TSH of any ECTs whose absences are likely to total 30 days or more (with the exception of statutory maternity leave, statutory paternity leave, shared parental leave, statutory adoption leave, or parental bereavement leave).

What is reduction to induction?

Detail of reduction to induction can be found within the statutory guidance and our handbook (available in the Appropriate Body key documents section above).

In the first instance, the Headteacher and/or Induction Tutor should contact us to inform of the intention to reduce an induction period. We will then provide an application form for this process.

Any applications for reduction must be submitted to us at least 10 working days before the deadline of a progress review or assessment.

Once an application is submitted to us, our Appropriate Body Lead will review this and arrange to meet with the Headteacher, Induction Tutor and the ECT. The meeting is an opportunity for the evidence referred to in the application to be presented to us before a final decision is made about whether the induction period can be reduced.

A Headteacher or Induction Tutor considering this process must read through and have followed the statutory guidance on reduction (paragraphs 3.2 to 3.5) before submitting the application.

Do you have any resources to help the handover between new and existing Induction Tutors?

We have created this handover document to help support the transition between Induction Tutors.

Where can I find more information on your ECF programmes?

More information on our ECF programmes, that are registered for separately to Appropriate Body Services, can be found by clicking here.