Quality assurance

OTSA, as the appropriate body, has the main quality assurance role within the induction process.

Independent quality assurance of statutory induction, through the role of the appropriate body, is important both for ensuring that schools provide adequate support for their ECTs, and that their assessment is fair and consistent across all institutions. Institutions are required to work with the appropriate body to enable it to discharge its responsibilities effectively.

Through quality assurance, the appropriate body should assure itself that:

• Headteachers/principals (and governing bodies where appropriate) are aware of, and are capable of meeting their responsibilities for monitoring support and assessment. This includes ensuring that an ECT receives a personalised induction programme, designated tutor support and a reduced timetable; and
• The monitoring, support, assessment and guidance procedures in place are fair and appropriate.

OTSA will quality assure the ECT induction process through:

• Maintaining records of attendance by ECTs, induction tutors and lead induction tutors at mandatory induction training (online webinar or watching online videos);
• Scrutiny of completed formal ECT assessment forms and progress reviews;
• Analysis of data regarding open rates of ECT induction update emails;
• Responding to telephone and email requests for support from anyone involved in the process;
• Quality assurance document checks;
• Support & quality assurance visits to schools and subsequent summary reports. (Support / QA visits may take place in response to concerns relating to any of the 4 bullet points above, or may simply be part of a rolling programme to visit schools with which OTSA is working).

ECT Induction Leaders