The GTCS has won support from the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers in its call for probationers to be given one day a week of non- class contact time for reflection on their teaching practice until the Easter break.

Chief executive Anthony Finn warned directors of education last month that the GTCS could not endorse the increased allocation of teaching time under the latest teachers’ agreement - from 0.7 to 0.82 of a week.

“An allocation of four hours per week (for reflection) is unlikely to allow Scotland to retain an induction scheme which is viable, offering new teachers appropriate time and experiences to reflect on their strengths and to learn about and understand the key elements required of a reflective practitioner by the Standard for Registration,” he said.

But the SNCT - made up of the local authority umbrella body Cosla, the teacher unions and the Scottish Government - has now written to councils asking them to take into account the GTCS request for flexibility in implementing the new arrangements for probationers.