How the induction process works
Induction information for Coordinators and Tutors
In this section, we take you through a period/term of induction and link to key information and forms which will help you. You can download the NQT and Tutor Guides together with all the key pro formas referred to below in bold type to help you monitor and support your NQT.
Each term – and actually half term or period – of induction is the same. If your NQT is a part timer, induction will take longer – see the section at the foot of this page.
Before induction can begin, an NQT must be registered with IStip, after having been awarded QTS. You will need to meet with your NQT and begin to plan their individualised programme for the term: you should use the Record of Induction and put in key meetings and lesson observations. The NQT should sign the Declaration of Prior Induction. Make sure you have a copy of the new standards: the Teachers’ Standards – Evidence tracker helps your NQT track their progress and provides evidence of this.
This year we have provided all NQTs and all Tutors with a Guide for the induction year that explains the processes and forms together with their responsibilities and rights, and which provides them with the IStip contact details. The packs are available to download from here as PDF documents.
Your NQT will need an Action & Development Plan to set developmental objectives that are relevant to their needs and to the context of the school. This should be reviewed at least every half term.
During the term
The key to the induction process is gathering evidence in a ‘little and often’ way, hopefully avoiding the last minute rush at the end of term to gather in all the different prices of evidence you and your NQT have been thinking of collecting all term. The Minimum Requirements of Evidence pro forma tells you what you must collect and how, and the audit trail ensures that this evidence is secure whether you work electronically or prefer hard copies.
You will need to observe your NQT at least twice per term (once in the first 4 weeks, once per half term), for induction purposes (ie to begin to assess them against the Standards). For each formal observation, you will complete a form, and your NQT will evaluate the lesson as well. Formal feedback must be given.
You will meet regularly (we’d suggest weekly) with your NQT to track progress made, to offer support, and to diagnose and discuss any areas of weakness, both inside and outside the classroom. All assessment should be linked back to the Standards. All meetings need to be minuted (by your NQT).
Each half term/period, you will meet with your NQT to formally review their progress and they should prepare for this meeting, which needs to be minuted (by you) in more detail than the regular sessions. The evidence gathered during review meetings can then be used when completing assessments. The idea is to funnel all the accrued evidence as you go along (our funnelling pro forma will help you with this.)
Finishing off the term
At the end of term, there will be a second review meeting, then about a week later, there will be a formal assessment meeting when progress towards the Standards is summarised in a form completed (on-line) by you. Guidance on writing an assessment form can be downloaded from the pro formas page.
Your NQT has to add comments and sign it as well, before the Head reads it, and also signs (the Head is legally responsible for induction in a school).
It is really important that your NQT is an active participant in the process so you need to encourage them to track their progress, seek out professional development opportunities, and observe other members of staff regularly (we require a minimum 6 observations over the induction period, regularly spaced) and note down what they learn from it. This is what the 10% NQT time is to be used for: it’s really easy to allow marking and preparation to take over all non-contact periods, but it needs to be set aside for induction-related activities – and you need to encourage your NQT to do this.
Subsequent terms and quality assurance
Terms two and three repeat this pattern, and at the end of the final period of induction the school will recommend to IStip as the Appropriate Body whether your NQT has passed or failed the process.
The other thing you need to know is that IStip visits some 25% of its NQTs every year. This Quality Assurance visit is not an inspection, and is there to offer you support and help, as well as to check processes.
Troubleshooting: what to do if your NQTs experience difficulties
They probably won’t, and the vast majority find the year to be a positive and rewarding experience. But sometimes a wobble becomes a bit more of a problem.
If your NQT does experience any difficulties you don’t feel can be easily resolved, or if you feel they may be at risk of failing the year, then please get in touch with us, and please look at the help sheets on Unsatisfactory Progress and at the Action Plan for an NQT at risk on the pro formas download page, and section 4 of the guidance.
It takes longer for a part-time NQT to complete induction, as they must still finish the equivalent of one full academic year. For example, an NQT working half full time equivalent (i.e. 0.5 FTE) will take twice as long – or two years – to complete induction.
To calculate the exact length of time it will take for a part time NQT to complete induction, take the number of days in the school year and divide by their FTE percentage: for example, 173/0.6 = 288 days of their scheduled employment might be needed to complete the induction of an NQT on 0.6 FTE.
Once you know this figure, you can work out how long each of the three individual assessment periods should be for: in the above example, it is 288/3 = 96 days.