Guidance

Early career framework (ECF) based induction year 2 time off timetable conditions of grant academic years 2022 to 2023 and 2024 to 2025

Updated 22 May 2025

Applies to England

 1. Introduction

The early career framework (ECF) based induction programme requires 2 years of participation by early career teachers (ECTs). Year 1 and year 2 refer respectively to the first year and second year of induction for an ECT.

Funding to support ECTs in year 1 of their induction, to cover the cost of 10% off timetable, should come from core funding. Schools receive their core funding through the바카라 사이트¯dedicated schools grant (DSG) or equivalent (for example general annual grant, 16 to 19 funding, or place funding) and is calculated using the바카라 사이트¯national funding formula (NFF).

Time off timetable and mentor support funding for the second year of induction is paid in arrears. Schools will receive 1 payment after the end of the ECT바카라 사이트™s second academic year unless the ECT is following a non-standard training schedule. This payment covers the cost of:

• 5% off timetable in their second year of induction for an ECT바카라 사이트™s induction activities including ECF based training and mentor sessions
• a dedicated mentor for the ECT, based on 20 hours of mentor support in their second year of induction

This funding is linked to the ECT and paid to the school who has registered the ECT as undergoing their ECF training at that school in their second year of induction.

2.  Proportionate funding

Funding for eligible ECTs working part-time, or for those who start training later in the academic year, will be paid after the end of the academic year if the eligibility criteria is met. Funding may be used to support these eligible ECTs beyond the academic year, and it is for the school to decide how this funding is managed.

2.1 Where an ECT moves to another school

If an ECT moves to another school during the second year of their induction, where possible, funding will be allocated to the school where the ECT is  registered on DfE바카라 사이트™s  at the end of August. It is the responsibility of the ECT바카라 사이트™s current school to ensure details on the service are correct and they should agree with the ECT바카라 사이트™s previous school(s) how this funding is managed.

 3. Eligibility

3.1 Eligible schools and establishments

Schools and establishments eligible for DfE funding include:

• state-funded schools

• further education (FE) providers

• sixth-form colleges

• children바카라 사이트™s centres

• qualifying nursery provision within maintained schools

• maintained and non-maintained special schools

• 16 to 19 academies and secure 16 to 19 academies

• secure children바카라 사이트™s homes

• independent schools that receive Section 41 funding

3.2 Eligible early career teachers (ECTs)

Schools and establishments will be eligible for DfE funding if they employ an ECT who:

• works in one of the schools and establishments listed in 3.1 above and,
• holds qualified teacher status (QTS) and,
• is registered as being in their second year of their induction after 1 September 2021

Schools and establishments who employ ECTs with qualified teacher learning and skills status (QTLS) are not eligible for DfE funding, because they are exempt from statutory induction.

4. How DfE checks the eligibility of ECTs

All schools and establishments choosing to follow the delivery option to use a lead provider or deliver your own training using DfE accredited materials are required to register their ECT(s) on DfE바카라 사이트™s  to receive the funding.

All schools and establishments must also register their ECT with an appropriate body and the appropriate body for the ECT will also have to register the induction. As part of the registration process, DfE will validate the ECT details provided against existing records across its services.

For ECTs commencing induction in academic years 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025, schools and establishments choosing to follow the delivery option to design and deliver their own ECF based training are not currently required to use the DfE .

From 1 September 2025, for all ECTs undertaking induction irrespective of start date, schools and establishments choosing to follow the delivery option to design and deliver their own ECF based training will be required to register their ECT바카라 사이트™s on DfE바카라 사이트™s  to receive the funding.

For the small number of schools and establishments who are not eligible to complete the SWC or register their ECT바카라 사이트™s on DfE바카라 사이트™s , DfE will communicate directly with these bodies to identify eligible ECTs.

5. Funding

Eligible schools and establishments do not need to make an application for funding. DfE will collect funding eligibility evidence through DfE바카라 사이트™s and the induction periods recorded by the ECT바카라 사이트™s appropriate body .

Time off timetable and mentor support funding for the second year of induction is paid in arrears. Schools will receive 1 payment after the end of the ECT바카라 사이트™s second academic year unless the ECT is following a non-standard training schedule. DfE makes ECF year 2 time off timetable payments directly to schools and establishments, or to local authorities to pay maintained schools, after the end of the academic year if the eligibility criteria is met.

5.1 Funding Amounts

The funding amount is calculated using the average hourly rate for ECTs and mentors, and will differ by region:

Year 2 funding	England (excluding the London area)	Inner London area	Outer London area	Fringe area
Rounded cost per ECT	£1,400	£1,700	£1,600	£1,500
Rounded cost per mentor	£1,000	£1,200	£1,000	£1,000
Total	£2,400	£2,900	£2,600	£2,500

6. Payments

The majority of payments are based on eligible ECTs recorded through DfE바카라 사이트™s . Therefore, it is essential that your school submits accurate and up to date information about ECTs to the service to ensure payments are received. Schools can find more information about how to submit and update ECT information.

6.1 For schools and establishments choosing to follow the delivery option to design and deliver their own ECF based training

Payments to such schools in 2025 for ECT(s) who complete their second year of training, DfE will identify ECTs via the induction periods recorded by the ECT바카라 사이트™s appropriate body with the DfE in addition to the information held on the school workforce census.

For the payments to such schools in 2026 onwards, DfE will collect data on ECTs through DfE바카라 사이트™s .

Eligible schools and establishments do not need to do anything else to receive this payment. Schools and local authorities will receive this funding as part of their normal payments from DfE.

6.2 Local authority-maintained schools

The funding must be made available by the local authority to the school irrespective of the existence of any deficit relating to the expenditure of the school바카라 사이트™s budget share. The funding is not part of schools바카라 사이트™ budget shares and is not part of the individual school바카라 사이트™s budget. It is not to be counted for the purpose of calculating the minimum funding guarantee.

6.3 Non-standard induction

For ECTs in their second year of induction following a non-standard induction or when their induction does not start in September, payments will be made as a combination of arrears and advance payments, after the end of the academic year if the eligibility criteria is met.

6.4 Additional terms of induction

For ECTs who serve extensions and require additional terms of induction after the standard induction period, no further grant funding is available. If eligible, access to funded training materials via lead providers continues until the ECT has completed their induction.

6.5 Contact details

If you think your school should have received this payment but has not, please email continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk.

 7. Variation

These conditions of grant may be altered at any time. Participating schools and establishments will be notified of this through existing channels.

8.  Recovery of funding

This funding is being provided under sections 14 to 16 of the Education Act 2002 and we reserve the right to audit the expenditure.

DfE may seek to recover funding that has been paid in error or has not been used for the intended purpose.

Recoveries will be made by invoice or by offsetting the amount against subsequent payments due from DfE.

The funding recipient must notify DfE immediately via the continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk mailbox if it becomes aware of any instance of error, suspected fraud or financial irregularity in the use of the funds.

 9. Assurance

DfE has a responsibility to make sure that public funds are properly managed in line with these grant conditions. As payment will be made in arrears, we reserve the right to ask schools to confirm that the money has been or will be spent in the way intended. Acceptance of the funding will be taken as confirmation.

Schools should keep some record of this expenditure such as a receipt for classroom cover, or a timetable for the ECT(s) and mentors involved, but we will not mandate what form this record should take, and trust school leaders to use their judgement.

DfE reserves the right to conduct light-touch, proportionate assurance with individual schools, asking for sight of such records.