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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 - 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.

    Exceed Teaching School Hub's unique offer

    Exceed Teaching School Hub is the only local provider of both ECF-based training and Appropriate Body Service. We are experienced teachers and leaders who understand your context.

    In addition to our core roles and responsibilities, Exceed Teaching School Hub will:

    • Provide the use of 'ECT Manager' as the online platform for managing the induction of ECTs, including progress reviews and assessments
    • Maintain regular communications via half termly newsletters
    • Be readily contactable by phone or e-mail to answer queries and advise
    • Provide training for all Induction Tutors and ECTs, with additional training provided when required
    • When there is an identified need, undertake a visit to your school 
    • Help and advise the school with the development of support plans
    • Support schools with the monitoring of support plans 
    • Provide comprehensive resources, exemplar materials and a handbook
    Charges for our Appropriate Body Service

    The Appropriate Body service for schools accessing a DfE fully funded ECF Training Programme is charged at £200 per ECT 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.

    A copy of our Service Level Agreement can be found here

    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.

    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
    Contact Us

    If you have any questions or wish to register an interest in becoming more involved please email ab@exceedacademiestrust.co.uk

    Further information:

    Teach First initial teacher training graduates and the ECF

    The following guidance has been published by Teach First:

     

    ECF and Teach First training

     

     

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