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The ITTECF and ECTE: support for new teachers
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The ITTECF and ECTE: support for new teachers

In short
From September 2025, the ITT Core Content Framework and the Early Career Framework were merged into a single Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF). The two-year support programme for new teachers is now called the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE).

What changed, and when

Until 2025 there were two separate frameworks: the ITT Core Content Framework (for trainees) and the Early Career Framework (for newly-qualified teachers). From September 2025 these were combined into one ITTECF, setting the minimum content entitlement for both trainees and early-career teachers, with refreshed content on areas such as SEND, oracy and early cognitive development.

The name of the new-teacher support programme also changed: it is now the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE), replacing references to “Early Career Framework-based training and induction”.

What a new teacher gets

The ECTE is a funded, structured package over the first two years of a teacher’s career, including a trained mentor, protected time off timetable, and evidence-based professional development. (Teachers who began before September 2025 continue on the previous programme through to August 2027.)

In plain terms: the length of induction (about two years, with a mentor) is broadly unchanged – the main difference is the naming and a refresh of the content.
Sources & how this was made

Key official sources: the Department for Education’s Get Into Teaching and Teach in Further Education services, and GOV.UK guidance on initial teacher training, qualified teacher status, FE initial teacher education funding and the Early Career Teacher Entitlement; the Society for Education and Training on QTLS; and DfE statistics (School Workforce in England, the ITT Census, Teacher demand and postgraduate trainee need, and the Further education workforce releases) on Explore Education Statistics, under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Last reviewed: 15 August 2026. Teacher training rules, funding and figures change – always confirm current details with Get Into Teaching and GOV.UK.

How this was made: developed and cross-checked with AI assistance alongside expert human review by tutor2u. It is an independent, plain-English guide, not official DfE guidance.