Appropriate Body
The online portal we use for Appropriate Body is ECT Manager. Please click here to access.
The Appropriate Body ensures that every Early Career Teacher receives a fair, statutory induction programme and that schools meet their legal responsibilities during the induction process.
In England, the Appropriate Body (AB) is the organisation responsible for quality assuring the statutory induction of Early Career Teachers (ECTs). Its role is to make sure that schools are providing the correct support, monitoring and assessment required during an ECT’s induction period.
What does the Appropriate Body do?
The Appropriate Body:
- Registers ECTs for induction before their induction period begins.
- Checks that the school has suitable induction arrangements in place, including an induction tutor, mentor and appropriate support programme.
- Quality assures assessments and progress reviews to ensure that judgements about an ECT’s performance are fair and consistent.
- Monitors the induction process and provides guidance when concerns arise about an ECT’s progress.
- Makes the final recommendation on whether an ECT has satisfactorily completed induction and reports this to the relevant national systems.
What is the school’s responsibility?
While the Appropriate Body quality assures the process, the school is responsible for:
- Providing day-to-day support to the ECT.
- Appointing a mentor and induction tutor.
- Conducting progress reviews and formal assessments.
- Ensuring the ECT receives their entitlement to training and reduced timetable..
In summary
Think of the Appropriate Body as the independent quality-assurance organisation for ECT induction. The school delivers the support and carries out assessments, while the Appropriate Body checks that everything is being done correctly, fairly and in line with Department for Education requirements.
Professional Progress Reviews and Formal Assessments
There will be two formal assessment points. One midway through induction at the end of year one, and one at the end of the induction period. These will be supported by regular progress reviews to monitor progress, to take place in each term where a formal assessment is not scheduled.
The induction period is automatically extended prior to completion when an ECT’s absence per year of induction (or equivalent for part-time teachers) total 30 days or more.
Professional Progress Reviews
The Induction Tutor is expected to review the ECT’s progress against the Teachers’ Standards throughout the induction period, with progress reviews taking place in each term where a formal assessment is not scheduled (term 1, 2, 4 and 5). Progress reviews will be recorded by the Induction Tutor using the progress review template on ECT Manager with a summary of strengths and areas to develop against each of the Teachers’ Standards.
Where the Induction Tutor believes the ECT is not making satisfactory progress it is expected they outline the support plan they have put in place to assist the ECT in getting back on track. Both the Induction Tutor and ECT will be expected to sign off the progress review, with the ECT being able to add comments, and will have access to the review for their own records. It is recommended that copies are supplied to the Mentor and where an ECT is not on track, to the Headteacher also. The Appropriate Body will monitor progress reviews submitted on ECT Manager to identify any ECTs that may be a cause for concern.
Guidance for Induction Tutors writing reports
Formal Assessments
ECTs should have formal assessments carried out by the Induction Tutor. ECTs should receive an assessment in the final term of the first year (term 3) and in the final term of the second year of induction (term 6). Evidence to support these assessments is the minimum of 1 observation completed by a member of the senior leadership team.
The final assessment meeting is at the end of the induction period and will form the basis of the Headteacher’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 form.
Interim Assessments
When an ECT leaves a post after completing more than one term in an institution but before the next formal assessment would be required, the Induction Tutor should complete an interim assessment. ECT Manager will automatically generate an interim assessment when the Induction Tutor indicates on the review that their ECT will not remain at the school for the next assessment period.
ECT Manager – Online Portal
The Golden Thread Teaching School Hub Appropriate Body uses an online system (ECT Manager) to manage the completion and submission of all progress reviews, formal assessments and interim assessments. For training on this system please contact the Appropriate Body team or watch our videos here.
Quality Assurance Visits
The Golden Thread Teaching School Hub Appropriate Body will complete Quality Assurance visits each year. A member of the AB team will ask to speak to the Headteacher, Induction Tutor and a selection of ECTs and ECMs. A record will be kept of each visit and a feedback and recommendations letter sent to each school following the visit.
Please click here to download our Quality Assurance Visits Policy
Please click here: DfE ECF induction and training: additional information for early career teachers
Please click here: DfE ECF induction and training: additional information for school leaders
Please click here: DfE ECF induction and training: additional information for mentors