Early career teachers (ECTs)

Reading Borough Council values early career teachers for their enthusiasm, talent, passion and energy. For that reason we offer them excellent career opportunities.

We will encourage and support you, as you first enter the profession. Our schools work with the local authority to provide early career teachers with advice, support and training to embark on their career.

Finding your first job in Reading

Schools in Reading manage their own recruitment and advertise for teachers all year round. Vacancies for teaching posts start appearing from January onwards for jobs starting in September.

Hints and tips on applying for vacancies:

• visit the school before applying
• when completing your application think very carefully about how your skills and qualifications match up with the essential criteria on the Person Specification
• personalise your application for every school including details of your previous experience working with children in school or other environments, such as:
  • your contribution to team activities or team working
  • areas where you have had special responsibilities
  • where you have developed (and sustained) positive relationships with young people
  • any additional skills including life experience knowledge and academic achievements
• include details about what you have achieved in your professional and personal life and how this benefits the pupils and the school

ECT induction

ECT induction is a two year process. Your school will register you with an appropriate body. The school will assigned an induction tutor to you. The appropriate body, usually a teaching school hub, will oversee and support you with the statutory elements of induction.

You will also follow a two year early career framework, based professional development programme. The programme is designed to further develop your skills as a teacher. In school an assigned mentor will support you with this aspect of induction.

More information on ECT induction.

More information on early career framework training.