What is meant by reducing an induction period?

Since 2021, every early career teacher (ECT) in England is required to serve a two-year induction period working in a school after they have attained qualified teacher status (QTS). The two-year induction entitlement is underpinned by the Early Career Framework (ECF), which sets out what ECTs are expected to learn about and learn how to do.

An induction period may be reduced to less than the full two years in certain circumstances. It is rare that the induction period would be reduced to less than one year.

Being signed off in a year? That sounds great!

Yes and no. True, you will have fewer formal lesson observations and fewer reports, but you will also be giving up significant advantages:

• Reduced teaching timetable - 10% reduction in year one and 5% reduction in year two in addition to your regular PPA time.
• Regular mentoring - weekly in year one and fortnightly in year two - from an experienced colleague who has been specially trained to support ECTs.
• Access to high-quality learning based on the best and most up-to-date evidence of what makes good teaching, quality assured by the Education Endowment Foundation.
• Support from your Appropriate Body (AB) - expert leaders who are there to support your induction and ensure that your school is fulfilling their obligations to you.

My school think I'm doing really well and want me to serve a reduced induction.

That's great! But if you're doing well now, you'll be doing even better after the full two years of training and support. Only agree to a reduced induction if you're absolutely sure it's what you want, and that you understand what support you'll be giving up. You can speak to your AB if you're unsure.

Can any ECT have a reduced induction?

Not really. The DfE's Induction for Early Career Teachers Statutory Guidance says, "Reductions should only be considered where an ECT has extensive prior experience of teaching whole-classes to the Teachers’ Standards."

Your Appropriate Body will ask for evidence of extensive (generally 2+ years) prior teaching experience and evidence that your teaching already meets the Teachers' Standards. As this prior teaching must be of whole classes, generally this will apply to ECTs who qualified via the assessment only route.

An AB may also consider a 'technical' reduction to the induction period where an ECT working part-time has completed two calendar years of teaching and is meeting the Teachers' Standards.

I did the assessment only (AO) route to QTS and my school wants my induction signed off early - but I'd really like the full two years of formal learning.

That's absolutely your right! If you're concerned that by doing the AO route you've missed out on the formal learning part of initial teacher training, you might want access to the full two years of induction support. The statutory guidance says that "If a teacher wishes to serve the full induction period they must be permitted to do so." Your AB will support you in this.

I've thought about it, and I'm happy that a reduced induction is the right thing for me - what do I do now?

Great! Your school should contact your AB to discuss this. Your induction tutor and/or Headteacher will be asked to complete an application form that you will also need to sign. If your AB is happy with the evidence presented, they will agree a provisional induction end date with you and the school. 

Remember that this is not a guarantee that you will pass induction early: at the provisional end date, you will still need to demonstrate that you meet the Teachers' Standards via a formal lesson observation and final assessment report. Your AB makes the final decision and could still ask that you extend your induction back to the full two years.