What to expect when you commence our School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme -  including updates on teaching and course delivery, as well as the ‘all important’ school based training placements over the academic  year.

Our aim is to offer our Associate Teachers a comprehensive and cohesive school based initial teacher training programme, which includes face to face, online modules and on some virtual teaching as well as school based training placements over the course of this academic year. 

To ensure we can keep you and school based partners as safe as is reasonably possible we have prepared contingency plans in case there are changes to the local and national guidelines in relation to COVID 19.

The latest government and Public Health Guidance and our own Health and Safety and Risk Assessment Policies will inform our approach to teaching and your training.

Note, as part of our ITT Partnership Agreements with all partner schools, there are COVID-19 policies and procedures in place in each school and all Associate Teachers should follow the latest COVID-19 guidance from their placement provider when on placement related activities.

Teaching, Course And Programme Delivery

The latest Department for Education guidelines on how providers should apply COVID-19 restrictions will inform our approach to teaching, course and programme delivery.

Our aim is to provide face to face training and school based placements in line with the current guidance where ‘no restrictions’ are in place. However, we have contingency plans in place should restrictions be implemented for example linked to:

  • Social distancing restrictions
  • Partial school closures
  • Full school closures
  • Circuit breaks for example extensions of ‘normal school holidays’
  • Local lockdown restrictions
  • Full lockdown restrictions

We have gained experience and expertise in delivering our programme flexibly, following different national guidelines at different points, and if necessary, we will move swiftly between approaches to minimise the impact of national changes on Associate Teachers and our partner schools.

We will follow the latest government guidance around face coverings, hand washing and sanitisation of equipment and introduce these measures as and when required.

Training Provision

With effect from September 2023, we aim to deliver a large percentage of our teaching via face to face lectures, training seminars and group tutorials.  Some large scale information sharing sessions, may take place virtually and all Associate Teachers will complete compulsory online modules linked for example to Safeguarding.   Online modules can be completed from the Associate Teacher’s own homes.

All Associate Teachers will receive an Induction Schedule and a Training Period Schedule, which outlines the method of delivery and venue.  Any necessary adaptations to training delivery will be communicated to Associate Teachers via our weekly updates.

No restrictions
If there are no restrictions, our training provision will take place according to the published Training Schedule.

Social distancing restrictions
If social distancing measures are in place, we will adhere to social distancing rules for all centre-based training and/or group tutorials. For some training, we will move to virtual training methods.

Local or national lockdown
In a national or local lockdown, we will follow DfE and Public Health Guidance, with a move to deliver training through virtual methods.

School Based Training Provision

Associate Teachers have applied for and expect to undertake a school based initial teacher training programme, which includes extended and extensive school based training placements. We aim to honour our commitment to this and aim to provide Associate Teachers with school based placements.

Associate Teachers should become aware of the partner school policy in place for periods of no restrictions, restrictions or partial school closures as part of their Induction.

All Associate Teachers will receive an Induction Schedule and a Training Period Schedule, which outlines the time spent in school, roles and expectations at each point in the training.  Any necessary adaptations to training placements will be communicated to Associate Teachers via our weekly updates.

No restrictions
If there are no restrictions in place, your school based placements will take place in line with the Training Schedule.

Social distancing restrictions
If social distancing measures are in place, we and partner schools will follow the DfE and Public Health England guidelines in relation to social distancing in the classroom and schools.

Local or national lockdown
In a national or local lockdown, we and partner schools, will follow DfE and Public Health England Guidelines. Associate Teachers will remain in school providing education to children who may be attending schools or learning remotely in line with the methods employed in that placement school.