Mentors: responsibilities for early career teacher entitlement
Published 22 April 2025
Applies to England
漏 Crown copyright 2025
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Mentors鈥� responsibilities
The early career teacher entitlement (ECTE)聽is a 2-year programme that supports early career teachers (ECTs) when they start their teaching career.
If you鈥檙e an ECT mentor, you鈥檒l need to:
- meet regularly with your ECT to provide support and feedback
- help your ECT relate their training to their specific subject area, phase and context
- arrange informal classroom drop-in sessions
- take prompt and appropriate action if your ECT is having difficulties
Mentors can receive training and time off timetable for training and mentoring activities.
What mentors are not responsible for
Mentors are not responsible for assessing an ECT. Your focus is on supporting the ECT鈥檚 professional development during their ECTE.
Your school鈥檚 headteacher and induction tutor are responsible for assessing the ECT against the teachers鈥� standards.
Mentor training
You could get 20 hours of mentor training if you鈥檙e a new mentor and your school is working with a Department for Education (DfE) funded training provider. Training is delivered over one year, which is about 6 to 7 hours per term.
You can only do this training, and receive funded time off timetable for it, once. However, you can be a mentor as many times as you like. You鈥檒l have access to mentor training materials and resources to support mentoring sessions while you are a mentor.
You can continue your training even if your ECT transfers school or withdraws part way through their entitlement.
If you have previous mentor training
Lead providers can tailor ECTE mentoring training programmes if you:
- are currently receiving mentor training on an initial teacher training (ITT) programme
- have had ITT mentor training since 2024
Time off timetable for training and mentoring activities
You鈥檒l get time off timetable for your mentor training and for supporting ECTs.
If your school uses a training provider, you鈥檒l typically deliver mentoring sessions:
- one hour per week in your ECT鈥檚 first year
- one hour every 2 weeks in your ECT鈥檚 second year
You should try to schedule your ECT mentoring sessions during teaching hours.
In exceptional circumstances, you might be asked to meet with your ECT outside of teaching hours.
If you have concerns about mentoring
Speak to your school鈥檚 induction tutor if you have concerns about your role as a mentor, including:
- your time off timetable
- your mentor entitlements
- an ECT鈥檚 training or progress
If your ECT has concerns or difficulties
You should support your ECT if they鈥檙e struggling with their training.
If you鈥檙e unable to help your ECT or they have problems with any other aspects of their ECTE, speak to your school鈥檚 induction tutor, for example if:
- they鈥檙e struggling with their training and you鈥檝e been unable to resolve the issue
- they have concerns about their time off timetable or mentor support
If your induction tutor cannot help them, you should advise your ECT to speak to your school鈥檚 appropriate body.