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Service Level Agreement for AB Services

Appropriate Body Service - Service Level Agreement (SLA)

1.       Purpose of SLA

This SLA is intended to define the Early Career Teacher (ECT) induction services provided by the Leicester and Leicestershire Teaching School Hub Appropriate Body, as well as the responsibilities of the school or college.

This SLA is based on statutory guidance (Induction for Early Career Teachers – England, published March 2021) which sets out the responsibilities of the Appropriate Body and the school or college.  The full guidance can be accessed via this link.

This SLA will be reviewed annually, and will be updated as necessary to reflect any changes to statutory guidance.

2.       Responsibilities of the Appropriate Body

Leicester and Leicestershire Teaching School Hub will carry out the statutory responsibilities of the Appropriate Body, as outlined in section 5.8 of Statutory Induction for early career teachers in England.   We will also act in accordance with the additional guidance issued to Appropriate Bodies -  Appropriate Bodies Guidance and the Early Career Framework

The following services are included in the Appropriate Body package:

  • Registration of the ECT with the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)
  • Access to the ECT Manager software, providing an efficient online service for registering ECTs and completing assessments.
  • Quality Assurance of the school’s induction arrangements and assessments.
  • Appropriate Body verification of ECT assessments and progress reviews.
  • Statutory notifications of completion of induction to the Teaching Regulation Agency.
  • Agreement to extensions or reductions to the induction period.
  • Support for induction leads in completing progress reviews and assessments.
  • Ongoing individual support throughout the year – ECTs will have a named contact at the AB in case of queries or difficulties.
  • Support webinars for mentors and induction coordinators in across the academic year.
  • Ongoing support for schools and ECTs in the case of difficulties or concerns over progress.
  • Liaising with other Appropriate Bodies in the event of an ECT moving schools part way through induction.
3.       School Responsibilities

The statutory responsibilities of the school/college are outlined in Section 5 of the statutory guidance. In the guidance reference is made to the following roles:

    a) Induction tutor

This should be a senior member of staff who coordinates the induction process for all ECTs in the school.  It is expected that the Induction Tutor will hold QTS and they must be given sufficient time to carry out the role.  Their role is to provide regular monitoring and support, and coordination of assessment. The induction tutor is a separate role to that of mentor, although one person can carry out both functions, if necessary.

The induction tutor will need to be able to make rigorous and fair judgements about the ECT’s progress in relation to the Teachers’ Standards. They will need to be able to recognise when early action is needed in the case of an ECT who is experiencing difficulties.  The induction tutor is expected to review the ECT’s progress against the Teachers’ Standards throughout the induction period, with progress reviews taking place in each term where a formal assessment is not scheduled. 

    b) Mentor

The headteacher/principal should identify a person to act as the ECT’s mentor, to provide regular mentoring to cover the ECF content. The mentor is expected to hold QTS and have the necessary skills and knowledge to work successfully in this role.

Mentoring is a very important element of the induction process and the mentor is expected to be given adequate time to carry out the role effectively and to meet the needs of the ECT. This includes attending regular mentoring sessions and mentor training where appropriate.  Mentors should not carry out formal assessments (unless they are also acting as the induction tutor).

Schools have a responsibility to:

  • Check and confirm that each ECT has Qualified Teacher Status prior to registration with the Appropriate Body;
  • Register each ECT on the DfE Online Service (Portal), if the school is working with a DfE-funded provider or using the DfE materials to deliver their own programme;
  • Ensure that there is an ECT Induction Tutor in place and that they have the ability and sufficient time to enable them to fulfil this role effectively;
  • Ensure that each ECT has an ECF based induction programme, including regular meetings with a dedicated mentor; the mentor should have the ability and sufficient time to carry out their role effectively.
  • Ensure that Induction Tutors meet regularly (once per half term) with each ECT and that summary notes of these meetings are kept.  These meetings are necessary to inform the progress reviews and formal assessments.
  • Complete and submit statutory progress reviews and assessment forms following the guidance of the Appropriate Body by the dates set by the Appropriate Body.
  • Conduct progress reviews at the end of each term where a formal assessment is not required.  These reviews are not formal assessments and there is no requirement for ECTs to create evidence specifically to inform a progress review.  A written record of each progress review is expected to be retained and provided to the ECT after each meeting, with the record clearly stating whether the ECT is on track to successfully complete induction, briefly summarising evidence collected by the induction tutor and stating the agreed development targets. It is also expected that objectives are reviewed and revised in relation to the Teachers’ Standards and the needs and strengths of the individual ECT.   
  • Notify the appropriate body and ECT after each progress review stating whether the ECT is making satisfactory progress. Where the induction tutor believes the ECT is not making satisfactory progress it is expected they outline the plan they have put in place to assist the ECT in getting back on track.
  • Ensure the ECT has a reduced timetable of no more than 90% of the timetable of the school/college’s other teachers on the main pay range in year 1 and no more than 95% in year 2;
  • Ensure the ECT’s teaching is formally observed regularly.  Leicester and Leicestershire TSH recommends that this should be once per half term in year 1 and once per term in year 2 of induction.  Formal observations should be carried out by the induction tutor or other suitably experienced and qualified staff NOT the mentor;
  • Take part in the cycle of Quality Assurance visits as proposed by the Teaching School Hub.
  • Inform the Appropriate Body immediately should there be any evidence that an ECT may be at risk of not meeting the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the induction period, via the “alerts” function on ECT manager;
  • Inform the Appropriate Body of any changes to the school details and contacts, e.g. change in induction tutor or headteacher;
  • Inform the Appropriate Body of any changes to the ECT’s circumstances.  This may include contract changes, extended period of absence, maternity leave etc;
  • Retain induction records for at least the minimum statutory period (currently 6 years);
  • Attend TSH training sessions and briefings.
4.       Service Charges for Fully Funded Induction

Leicester and Leicestershire Teaching School Hub will make a charge of £250 per ECT over the two years of induction. *£150 payable at the end of Year 1, £100 at the end of Year 2. *If schools opt for the fully funded ECF with Leicester and Leicestershire Teaching School Hub this will be reduced to £225

5.       Service Charges for Core Induction Programme

If a school is not using a DfE funded training provider (a Teaching School Hub or other delivery partner of one of the Lead Providers) the Appropriate Body is required to carry out a fidelity check on the school’s own ECF programme. 

Fidelity checks must be carried out at 3 points in the process:

  • At the planning stage: before the start of induction where possible, an Appropriate Body is expected to check that an induction support programme has been designed with fidelity to the ECF.
  • Before the end of term 3, an Appropriate Body should check implementation of the school’s plans. 
  • Before the end of induction, an Appropriate Body should check actual delivery of the planned ECF-based induction.   

These total cost of these checks will be charged at £875 and is charged upfront to cover the two years. The school will also be charged at the rate per ECT of £250 per ECT over the two years of induction. £150 payable at the end of Year 1, £100 at the end of Year 2.

6.       Service Charges for School Based Induction

If a school is not using a DfE funded training provider (a Teaching School Hub or other delivery partner of one of the Lead Providers), or the Core Induction Programme, the Appropriate Body is required to carry out a fidelity check on the design of the school’s own ECF programme. 

These checks must be carried out at 3 points in the process:

  • At the planning stage: before the start of induction where possible, an Appropriate Body is expected to check that an induction support programme has been designed with fidelity to the ECF.
  • Before the end of term 3, an Appropriate Body should check implementation of the school’s plans. 
  • Before the end of induction, an Appropriate Body should check actual delivery of the planned ECF-based induction.   

These total cost of these checks will be charged at £1400 and is charged upfront to cover the two years. The school will also be charged at the rate per ECT of £250 per ECT over the two years of induction. £150 payable at the end of Year 1, £100 at the end of Year 2.

7.       Termination of agreement

This is a two-way agreement between the Appropriate Body and the school/college. Should the Appropriate Body, or school/college, not fulfil its responsibilities regarding ECT Induction as described above either party may choose to terminate the agreement.

The school/college may terminate the provision of this service by giving three month’s written notice to the Appropriate Body.

The Appropriate Body may terminate the provision of this service by giving three month’s written notice to the school/college

For each ECT registered this agreement will terminate if:

  • the ECT resigns from their post before the end of the induction period;
  • the ECT’s contract with the employing school/college ends;
  • the ECT completes their induction period.
8.       Complaints

Should a school/college wish to make a complaint about the provision of the service they should contact Simon Renshaw, Deputy Director of the Mead Institute and Strategic Lead for the Leicester and Leicestershire Teaching School Hub and Head of the Appropriate Body) in writing.

Complaints that cannot be resolved satisfactorily will be escalated and considered by Trust Complaints Team: [email protected], 0116 2143148 TMET, The Mead Centre, 343 Gipsy Lane, Leicester LE4 9DD

Complaints should be addressed to:

Simon Renshaw, Deputy Director Mead Institute, Leicester and Leicestershire Teaching School Hub, Melton Road, Leicester, LE4 7AN.

By registering ECTs you agree that:

You have read, understood and will comply with the terms of this service level agreement.

You confirm that for each ECT registered:

    • The post to which the ECT has been appointed will be suitable for the purposes of ECT Induction as described in the Statutory Guidance (section 2.18) A Suitable Post for Induction
    • The school will have confirmed that the award of QTS has been made to the ECT.
    • The school will have appointed a mentor who has the ability and sufficient time to carry out their role.
    • The school’s induction tutor has the ability and sufficient time to carry out their role.
    • The school will be providing a reduced timetable in addition to PPA in line with the statutory guidance.
    • The school will be providing an ECF-based induction programme.
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