How to register your ECT
*** REGISTRATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 2026 ARE NOW OPEN ***
For schools choosing the provider-led route for ECTs beginning induction from September 2025 onwards, our lead provider is Teach First and delivery partner is The Golden Thread Teaching School Hub.
You still need to complete a separate registration on ECT Manager for the Appropriate Body element and schools are able to do this now in readiness for September.
Click here to read guidance on the updated DfE portal – ‘Register Early Career Teachers’ (RECT)
Click here to read the DfE guidance – ‘Induction for early career teachers (England)’ updated 9 June 2026.
***
Step 1. Register with The Golden Thread Teaching School Hub as your Appropriate Body.
Click here to register the details on ECT Manager.
Your Induction Tutor or Headteacher will need to register their details in the first instance. Once we have authorised their registration, they can add details of the ECTs.
If you cannot see your school on the drop down list, please contact us at TSH@painsley.staffs.sch.uk
Click here for guidance on how to register a new school on ECT Manager (March 2024)
Click here to watch ‘Register your school at this Appropriate Body’
Step 2. Register with the DfE
** If you are choosing the provider led training and are outside of our Hub area (Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent), please check by emailing lbu@painsley.staffs.sch.uk that we have claimed your school as wanting to work with us for the ECTP BEFORE completing the portal **
From September 2025, all ECTs serving induction in settings eligible for the early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) grant funding must now register on the DfE’s Register early career teachers service. This includes ECTs who have started their induction already but are new to your school.
Registration is mandatory for all ECTs in eligible settings, including those completing school-led training programmes.
In addition, all settings are reminded that they must continue to register all ECTs with an Appropriate Body, even if they are not eligible for the grant funding.
In summary:
| Where to register? | Register with the Department for Education | Register with an Appropriate Body (The Golden Thread TSH) |
| Who should register? | All settings who are eligible for grant funding, including those running school-led training programmes, must register their ECTs on DfE’s Register early career teachers service.
This includes ECTs who have started their training but are not currently registered to your school.
This is a new requirement from September 2025 for those running school-led training programmes. | All settings, regardless of school type, must register their ECTs with an Appropriate Body.
You can find further information at Find an appropriate body – GOV.UK |
| Why do I need to register? | This ensures that your setting receives grant funding for the ECT’s entitlement.
For settings using a funded DfE Lead Provider, DfE will also pass on the ECT’s details to your Lead Provider. | This ensures your ECT’s statutory induction is correctly recorded. It also ensures that your ECT’s entitlements and assessments can be checked. |
For example: independent special schools that get Section 41 funding can be eligible for grant funding, as long as they meet the grant conditions. However, if an ECT is doing their induction at an independent school that doesn’t get Section 41 funding, they must still be registered with an Appropriate Body – but they don’t need to register with the DfE, because they aren’t eligible for grant funding.
A list of all settings eligible can be found within the relevant grant conditions: Grant funding for early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) year 2 time off timetable and mentor support – GOV.UK
Support
For support with registering ECTs with the DfE please refer to the how to set up and manage the early career teacher entitlement guidance.
If you have read the guidance and need further support, please contact: continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk
***
If you have any queries regarding the registration process, please contact us TSH@painsley.staffs.sch.uk and a member of the ECT team will be happy to assist you.
If your ECT has completed Year 1 of their induction and is staying in the same setting for Year 2, their induction will continue and you will not need to re-register any details.