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Appropriate Body Service

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Introduction

Since September 2021, appointing an Appropriate Body to quality assure an early career teacher (ECT) induction is one of three statutory requirements for schools/trusts that have appointed an ECT. The others are to provide an ECF-based training and support programme and to provide the ECT with their entitlement as set out in the Statutory Guidance.

For ECTs working full-time, induction is a two-year process (pro ratas for part-time teachers). Each term, an ECT has a progress review led by the school's Induction Tutor (sometimes referred to as an Induction Coordinator) - a senior leader with responsibility for overseeing their ECT's induction. In terms 3 and 6 of induction, the ECT has an assessment. Progress reviews and assessments capture the ECT's performance against the Teachers' Standards. At the end of year 2 of induction, a decision is made by the Appropriate Body, based on the school's recommendation, whether the ECT has successfully completed induction.

Newly Qualified Teachers commencing induction prior to September 2021 have until September 2023 to complete the equivalent of one academic year of induction. NQTs do not undertake an ECF-based training and support programme; they receive their entitlement and bespoke support and training from their school.

Exceed Teaching School Hub's unique offer
  1. Exceed Teaching School hub is the only local provider of both ECF-based training and Appropriate Body service. This means that school registering for both elements of induction with us can benefit from a seamless offer that reduces school workload and that of the Hub; a reduction reflected in our pricing.
  2. We have designed ECT's termly progress reviews during year 1 of induction to build on their initial teacher training assessments. This makes progress reviews more focused and this reduces Induction Tutor's workload when completing them.
  3. Exceed Teaching School Hub's Appropriate Body Service is school-led - we are teachers and leaders and fully understand your school's context.
Fidelity checks

Schools that choose the 'DfE-funded training provider' option for providing an ECF-based training and support programme - such as the Ambition Institute's Early Career Teachers' Programme delivered in partnership with Exceed Teaching School Hub - do not need to undertake fidelity checks, avoiding unnecessary paperwork and expense to the school. This is the cheapest option for school as it reduces workload in the planning and preparation of delivery, maximises support from a lead provider and delivery partner, and maximises the DfE funding the school receives. In 2021-22, 96% of schools nationally selected this option.

Schools selecting the 'use DfE-accredited materials to deliver your own programme' option do need fidelity checks to be undertaken by the Appropriate Body prior to induction commencing and during induction. The school will need to self-fund these checks undertaken by the Appropriate Body. This is a more expensive option for schools as they have these additional requirements to fulfil and associated costs for the Appropriate Body to undertake checks, and they receive less funding from the DfE to support the induction.

Schools choosing the 'design and deliver you own ECF-based programme' option do need more rigorous fidelity checks to be undertaken by the Appropriate Body. This option means schools will need to present detailed schemes and plans for their programme to the Appropriate Body prior to induction commencing and during induction. The school will need to self-fund these checks undertaken by the Appropriate Body. This is the most expensive option for schools as they have these additional requirements to fulfil and associated costs for the Appropriate Body to undertake checks, and they receive less funding from the DfE to support the induction.

Schools can read more about the requirements of an Appropriate Body to undertake fidelity checks, including roles and fidelity checking templates that schools will be asked to complete, here.

Service Level Agreement:

A copy of our Service Level Agreement can be found here

Prices

The Appropriate Body service for schools accessing a DfE fully funded ECF Training Programme is charged at £200 per year. Please see the table below which outlines the charges across the 2-year* induction:

Year 1

Year 2

£200

£200

*The duration may be longer for part-time ECTs to allow for equivalent of two years worked.

For schools that choose to use DfE accredited materials or design and deliver their own programme based on the ECF, there is an additional charge in order for the Appropriate Body to undertake three fidelity checks throughout the first two years of the induction.

Induction type

Cost

Using DfE accredited materials

£700

Designing and delivering own programme

£1200

Our service includes:

  • Use of 'ECT Manager' as the online platform for managing the induction of ECTs and NQTs, including progress reviews and assessments
  • Access to our Resources area, including handbook, exemplar progress reviews, and cause for concern form and Support Plan templates
  • Briefing events for Induction Tutors
  • Briefing events for ECTs
  • Regular email-based updates
  • Termly Newsletters
  • Termly drop in sessions
  • Telephone and email support
  • School support visits 

All prices subject to VAT where applicable. Invoices are issued at the end of each term.

Register for the Appropriate Body Service

 

Further information:

Teach First initial teacher training graduates and the ECF

The following guidance has been published by Teach First: