Early Career Teachers

The OTSA/OTSH fortnightly bulletin is shared on a Friday morning.

The bulletin contains everything you need to keep up to date with statutory induction and the ECF programme, including upcoming facilitated session information and other helpful resources. If you are not receiving the bulletin please first check your spam / clutter folder, then email Kate Baker, ECF Administrator, at ect@otsa.org.uk so we can look into it. 

The full programme schedules for ECTs in Year 1 and Year 2 can be found here.

Year 1

Year 2

Details of online sessions are shared in advance by facilitators while details of in-person sessions are shared by the the central team. Caroline Tidmarsh manages the registers for all sessions so please contact caroline.tidmarsh@otsh.org.uk with any queries.

The UCL Programme is built on a spiral curriculum so all the ECF Standards are covered during Year 1, and then revisited through practitioner inquiry in Year 2.

There are three strands of learning throughout the programme: mentor meetings, ECT self-directed study, and live facilitated sessions.

There are special arrangements in place for ECTs following 'non-standard' induction.

• Part-time ECTS 
• Mid-year starters 
• Reduced induction period - ECTs approved for a reduced induction period, please discuss your development priorities with your mentor and induction tutor. Your induction tutor will then liaise with Jen Fiddaman (ECF Director) to ensure that your programme is adapted to best suit your needs.

I do not have any login details.

1. Check that your lead induction tutor has registered you for the programme through the DfE online service: https://manage-training-for-early-career-teachers.education.gov.uk/

Your enrolment onto UCL Extend comes directly from the data shared with the DfE which is passed on to UCL.

2. Check your spam / clutter as the login details are often routed here.

I can log in but I can’t see any of the programme content. 

1. Confirm that you have completed the ECF Programme Commencement Agreement, found at the bottom of the ECF Programme Home page:

2. Check that you are using the login details shared with you by UCL, and that you’ve used the correct login box (not ‘First time here?’).

If you have logged in via any other route, please contact jen.fiddaman@otsh.org.uk. 

Please email jen.fiddaman@otsh.org.uk with any further queries or issues to do with accessing your UCL Extend account or platform navigation. Support can be provided via email or through an online meeting using screen-share to troubleshoot any difficulties

ECTS engage with self-directed study sessions on UCL Extend.

During Modules 1 - 5 there are four strands within the self-directed study sessions: EYFS, special school settings, primary, and secondary. You should select the strand that is most relevant to your current experience. 

The minimum expectation is that ECTs complete at least 50% of the self-directed study sessions within each half term. This allows flexibility during particularly busy terms around events such as parents evenings, residential visits, and other in-school commitments.

In Modules 6 - 8 there is one self-directed study session per half term. These sessions are focused on developing key aspects of the practitioner inquiry. 

You can access our full handbook here. 

Download handbook 

If you aren’t sure which section you need, try a search using keywords related to your query e.g. absence; part time; timetabling.