I’ve been working in an independent, British primary school in Kenya for two years. I came here as an NQT but plan to return to the United Kingdom. Will this experience count towards my induction and will I be at a disadvantage when applying for jobs?

It depends where in the UK you intend to work as rules vary. England, Guernsey, Jersey, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man follow the English statutory induction policy. Scotland has a two-year probation period, which is soon to be cut to one year. Northern Ireland has an induction stage in its teacher education; Wales does not, although it plans to introduce it from September 2003.

Your two years abroad won’t count towards induction in England. If you want to teach in state schools and you qualified after May 1999, you must complete the three-term induction period here, no matter how long it’s been since your training. The longer you leave it, the harder induction will be. Induction gives you access to support, monitoring and assessment. State schools must give you a 10 per cent lighter timetable than other staff and offer you access to courses, regular meetings, observations and feedback on your progress.

Your work abroad will count as valuable experience. In applications, emphasise all the skills you have developed and show an awareness of the differences between these teaching contexts. Keep up to date with developments via the websites of the Department for Education and Skills (www.dfes.gov.uk) and The TES (www.tes.co.uk), and mention them in your supporting statement.

How much do schools get for funding induction? My school says it doesn’t have enough.

The DFES gives local authorities money to delegate to schools through Standards Fund 501 to cover the 10 per cent reduced timetable and other costs. This is at least pound;1,000 per term per NQT. It should be enough but doesn’t go very far if your supply costs are high.

E-mail questions to susan.young@newsint.co.uk. Sara Bubb cannot enter into personal correspondence. More questions at www.tes.co.uk.