Spotlight on... Personal support plans
What are they and how do they work?
If you're an early career teacher (ECT), you'll know that each term your induction tutor is expected to conduct a lesson observation and write a report on your progress as a teacher. They are asked if you are on track to meet all the teachers' standards by the end of your induction period. Most of the time, their answer will be a resounding yes.
But what if it isn't? It may be that there's just one part of your practice that you haven't mastered yet. It may be that you've been unwell, or one of your classes has some tricky behaviour. Whatever the reason, your induction tutor has judged that you are not quite showing the progress they'd like.
So what happens next? Well, your induction tutor must get in touch with your appropriate body (AB) to discuss a personal support plan (PSP) for you. A personal support plan is not a punishment. A PSP is designed to upskill you in a specific area, via extra training, mentoring, or other support. A PSP is time-limited, and at the end of the designated period you will be observed again. You will either be taken off the PSP, as you have demonstrated that you are back on track, or another plan will be discussed with you.
Your PSP will be created by your school in collaboration with your appropriate body. Your AB will then get in touch with you to see if you would like to discuss it further. Remember that the role of the AB is to quality assure your induction: this means making sure that you're receiving all your entitlements under the early career framework, and that you are being assessed fairly by your school. Please be honest with your AB if you have concerns - they are there to help you.
Common PSP misconceptions:
If my school puts me on a PSP it means I'm going to fail my induction
Absolutely not! The vast majority of ECTs who are given personal support plans go on to successfully complete their induction on time.
If my school puts me on a PSP it means they want me to resign.
No! They want you to succeed and become the best possible teacher. You just need a little more help in one area.
If I'm put on a PSP at the end of year 1 it means I've failed that year.
Nope. You don't pass or fail any point in your induction before the end of year 2. You bank every completed term of induction regardless of whether you're deemed on track or not.
If my contract finishes before the end of my induction, I won't be able to get another job if I've been on a PSP.
Again, no! As an AB, we've seen plenty of ECTs move between schools with or without having had a PSP.
If you're still worried, keep in touch with your AB. If that's the Julian TSH, you can get in touch at any time.