Frequently Asked Questions
What is a delivery partner?
NWLTSH is your ‘delivery partner’ throughout your time with the ECF programme. This means that we organise and deliver all your conferences and clinics and are your first point of contact for any programme-related questions or concerns. We monitor engagement with our online platform, Steplab, to check that mentors are recording regular observations and ECTs are carrying out regular study so you are all receiving your entitlement and develop into brilliant teachers, making a difference to children’s lives.
What if I can’t access Steplab or am having issues with Steplab?
Contact Ambition on ECF Support <ectsupport@ambition.org.uk> who will support you to resolve this quickly. Usually, Steplab cannot be accessed because ECTs or Mentors have not completed their onboarding and their Steplab Access Form – they are sent a Welcome email from Ambition to do this.
What happens if I can’t attend a conference or clinic?
As one of the largest teaching school hubs, we have several options for clinic and conference dates. If you know you cannot attend a conference or clinic in advance, please ask your Induction Tutor to contact us and we will help you to find an alternative.
What happens if I miss a conference or clinic?
If you miss a clinic, this will be assigned to you as catch-up on Steplab to make sure that you don’t miss out. If you miss a conference, your school’s Induction Tutor should get in touch with us to find you an alternative.
FAQ for ECTs
How often should I do Steplab study?
ECT1s should complete this weekly to build mental models of what makes excellent teaching and learning, as we know that knowledge leads to action leads to impact. In the same way, ECT2s should complete this fortnightly. Please resist the urge to complete more than one module at once as this means you won’t be making the most of your entitlement and study! Sometimes we might contact you as we approach milestones to make sure you’re up-to-date and to support you if you are not receiving your entitlement. Passing your induction is not dependent on completing Steplab modules, but it helps you meet all the teacher standards as you study and develop your mental models of teaching and learning.
How often should I be observed?
Your induction tutor formally observes you either once a half term (ECT1) or once a term (ECT2) as part of your assessment – this is linked to the appropriate body and progress reviews. However, you should be receiving regular (weekly ECT1 or fortnightly ECT2) low-stakes observations, feedback and instructional coaching from your mentor to help you become a fantastic practitioner.
FAQ for ECTs and Mentors
Thank you to our wonderful mentors for all you do to support your ECTs
ECTs / Mentors: Why do I keep getting ‘nudged’?
We ‘nudge’ mentors and ECTs if you miss an opportunity to complete Steplab study, or if mentors miss carrying out an observation, to ensure that ECTs are receiving their entitlement. We do understand that life can get in the way sometimes and that schools are busy places, but want to make sure that each and every ECT is getting the most out of the two induction years, building their mental models of great teaching and learning through study and improving their practice through observation and instructional coaching. So, if you get nudged, please see it as a gentle and supportive reminder, and have a look at your Steplab to see where you’re up to. Your induction tutor has a Steplab overview too, so you can speak to them as well.
FAQ for ECT2:
Why can’t I access Stretch content?
As an ECT2, you will have completed a study plan with your mentor based on the diagnostic tool on Steplab. This will then give you areas from the ECT1 content you should return to to further develop your understanding of teaching and learning strategies and the science of learning behind them. You
should complete stretch content once you have done this. A reminder to complete one module of study per fortnight – one module should take 45 mins. Stretch content is released gradually so it may be that the next content wasn’t ready but more has recently been released. If you are unsure which module to return to, work with your mentor to identify which will best suit you with your current areas of development.
What do I do if we have an ECT who is leaving?
Please contact the appropriate body as soon as you are notified, to let them know, as an interim report must be completed by the school. This is a statutory requirement.
Please go to the DfE portal and report that the ECT is leaving your school.
Please contact the TSH to let us know that this is ECT is leaving, and if they are remaining in teaching or not.
If there are mentors at your school who are no longer mentoring, or if there is a change in ECT mentor, please let us know on our email address. This is very important as, if the mentor is no longer mentoring but still registered, they will appear on engagement reports as not carrying out observations.
