Dear colleague,

We hope you have had a restful Christmas break and welcome you back to the start of the Spring term.

In the first newsletter of 2024, we wanted to draw your attention to:

Initial Teacher Training (ITT)

As your local TSH, we provide the Golden Thread of professional development to teachers across EM3 at all stages of their career. The first stage of this is Initial Teacher Training (ITT). From September 2024, we will be working in collaboration with a number of organisations to provide routes into teaching.

These routes will enable schools in our region to either nurture their own talent, by supporting them to obtain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), or work with the next generation of teachers to join the profession.

National Professional Qualifications

Our 6th cohort of NPQs, commencing February, is the last NPQ cohort with confirmed funding. It is uncertain if DfE funding for the NPQs will continue into 2024/25.

ECT Resources

The National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE) and our local Early Years Stronger Practice Hub at Alfreton Nursery School, are providing free resources and support to support ECTs with their practice.

Finally.....

In this month's spotlight, we heard from one of our Golden colleagues about their experiences of evidence-informed practice of ITT through ECF and into NPQs.

 

Kind regards,

Alan and the Potentia Team

 

Keep in touch

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School Placements 2024/25

As we mentioned in our December newsletter, we are delighted to deliver ITT across the region in partnership with our accredited provider, the University of Derby. Schools also play an essential role by hosting placements and providing mentors.

School involvement in ITT can support schools and staff in many ways:

• Opportunities to work with talented trainee teachers, who may be a strong fit for future teaching vacancies in your school
• Professional development for mentors who support trainee teachers
• Access to the latest research, practice and innovation on teaching and support for children and young people.
• Access to support from ITT Providers and their wider networks 

The ITT reforms mean that, from September 2024, there will be more opportunities for schools to host trainee teachers. For example, in addition to the more familiar placements, the new Intensive Training and Practice (IT&P) elements are shorter in duration. Supported by the University of Derby team, trainees will focus on foundational aspects of classroom practice. They will engage in structured observation, deconstruction of expert practice, rehearsal and live practice, followed by immediate, structured feedback.

Schools who wish to be involved with ITT can choose to offer only ITT placements, support ITaPs only, or become involved in both.

To register your interest in providing a school placement, please fill out our Initial Teacher Training School Engagement National Survey. If you have any questions, please contact us via itt@potentiatsh.co.uk

 

As part of the government’s long-term education recovery plan, it was announced in May 2022 that funding for fully funded NPQ training scholarships would be available in the academic year 2023 to 2024. 

Schools can also access targeted support funding, which is designed to increase uptake of evidenced-based professional development amongst teachers and leaders. Free funding is still available from February 2024 to incentivise participation in National Professional Qualifications (NPQs).

Click here to find out about targeted support funding.

Currently, the February 2024 cohort is THE LAST COHORT that we know is fully funded, with the deadline for applications being the 2^nd of February 2024.

If you or your staff already know which NPQ you want to apply for, then click  https://bit.ly/ApplyforNPQs 

NPQ information webinars

Calling all Headteachers in their first 5 years!

Are you in a small school with less than 150 on roll?

For more information about any of the above, contact Jan Pierce, our NPQ lead, via email npq@potentiatsh.co.uk

January brings a new intake of ECTs with their Mentors as well as the next term for our current ECTs and Mentors. There are some dates coming up to be aware of for both the Early Career Framework (ECF) and Appropriate Body (AB) Induction Services this half term.

ECF
18^th January – Welcome Webinar for new ECTs and Mentors

23^rd January – Keeping In Touch Drop in for Mentors working on Blocks 5&6 / 7&8 / 9&10 this term

25^th January – April 2022-23 ECT Session 3 (Blocks 5&6)

30^th January – September 2023-24 ECT Session 2 (Blocks 3&4)

31^st January – September 2023-24 Mentors Session 2 and 3 (Blocks 3-6)

1^st February – January 2022-23 ECT Session 4 (Blocks 7&8)

6^th February – September 2022-23 ECT Session 5 (Blocks 9&10)

7^th February – April 21-22 ECT Session 6 (Block 11 & 12)

8^th February – April 21-22 Mentor Session (Blocks 11 & 12)

AB
16^th January – Induction Tutor welcome for those new to Potentia TSH AB services

January Starters

If you’ve employed an ECT for 1 term or more starting in January they will need to be registered for their induction period for both AB and ECF by using the following steps:

1. Ensure your school and Induction Tutor details are correct on the DfE Manage My Early Career Teacher site Here.  Once you are granted access you will be able to register your ECTs and Mentors.
2. Complete the Education Development Trust Expression of Interest form Here. (if you’re not already working with EDT and Potentia)
3. Register your ECTs for their Induction via the Appropriate Body Services on ECT Manager for Potentia TSH Here.

Further Opportunities and Resources for ECTs

Religious and Social Education Teachers

The National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE) are the subject association for teachers of Religious Education (RE) run by teachers for teachers.
NATRE support those in Initial Teacher Training (ITT), Early Career Teachers (ECTs), subject teachers in each phase of education, and leaders at all levels and experience.

https://www.natre.org.uk/about-natre/teaching-school-hubs/

Early Years Teachers

Early Years Practitioners in all settings now have access to the newly appointed Early Years Stronger Practice Hub based in Alfreton, Derbyshire! Please visit their website to find out what support your ECTs can get from them.

https://www.alfreton.derbyshire.sch.uk/stronger-practice-hub

Useful Links:  

Appropriate Body Services Potentia

Appropriate Body and ECF Overview Webinar for Induction Tutors

Appropriate Body Induction Training 1 for Induction Tutors

Appropriate Body Induction Training 1 for ECTs
Writing Reviews and Assessments
 

Early Career Framework with EDT and Potentia

Early Career Framework welcome for Mentors and ECTs

There is a useful supporting blog from Flexible Teacher Talent, who contributed to the toolkit.