ECT First Year Survival Guide

Start your teaching career feeling prepared, supported and confident. This printable guide brings together everything an early career teacher in England needs for their first year, from understanding induction to managing behaviour, protecting your wellbeing and building evidence against the Teachers’ Standards.

Inside (19 A4 pages):

Induction at a glance: updated for the June 2026 DfE statutory guidance, including your rights, progress reviews, formal assessments and a clear breakdown of your timetable (teaching, induction time and 10% PPA)
My support team: mentor, induction tutor, DSL, SENCo, appropriate body contact and more
The Teachers’ Standards explained: what each one looks like in the classroom, plus Part Two
Evidence tracker: build evidence for each standard term by term
Your first week: a checklist for a calm, organised start
Month-by-month reminders: what’s coming up across the school year
Behaviour that works: routines, habits and calm scripts to use in class
Planning and workload: work smarter and protect your evenings
Looking after yourself: wellbeing habits, warning signs, a personal wellbeing plan and where to get support
Tricky situations: what to do if you’re struggling, not getting mentor time, facing a complaint and more
Useful phrases: emails to parents, asking for help and saying no politely
Templates: mentor meeting records, lesson observation reflection, progress review preparation, and term goals and reflection

It suits ECTs in year 1 or 2, and is a useful resource for mentors, induction tutors and ECT leads to share with their cohort.

Licensed for single-teacher use. Summarises the DfE’s statutory induction guidance and the Teachers’ Standards (England). Always follow your school’s induction policy. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.