Monitoring and Supporting NQTs

• Newly Qualified Teachers receive 10% non-contact time per week. This is usually achieved as half a day every week although sometimes it may be one full day every two weeks.
• School allocates a mentor to the NQT - currently DH Curric.
• The mentor conducts lesson observations every half term unless the Headteacher or LEA is doing so
• The mentor provides constructive feedback based on these observations
• The observations are used in tandem with the Career Entry Profile to agree short, medium and long term objectives as part of the 'Action Plan for the Induction Period'
• The mentor organises support and resources to enable those objectives to be met
• The mentor should be available for NQTs to discuss their work and issues arising, particularly when the NQT encounters a problem
• The NQT and mentor should meet informally but regularly to ensure that work is progressing smoothly (e.g. briefly during the NQT's non-contact time)
• The Headteacher will see each NQT in the first term and then in the third term to conduct a final assessment of the NQT and confirm that the requirements for passing the induction year have been met
• An LEA representative will observe the NQT at least once
• If it appears that the NQT is, at any point during the year, not making sufficient progress towards achieving the induction standards they will be made fully aware of the particular areas of concern and additional support will be given to them

Recommendations For Newly Qualified Teachers

• Read carefully the Induction Handbook for Newly Qualified Teachers
• Be familiar with the induction standards (at the back of the Career Entry Profile)
• Read the School documentation, particularly the Teaching and Learning Policy, the Marking Policy, the information provided in the planning folders, the Health and Safety Policy, the Behaviour Policy, and any other material you are directed towards
• Attend all of the NQT Induction Training programme run by the Borough. School will often cover this in addition to any non-contact time given
• Make regular contact with your mentor who is there to help you with any issues, problems or just simple queries
• Use the colleagues around you. It is particularly useful to have another member of staff to act as your 'critical friend'
• Use the opportunity of regular non-contact time to see good practice and continue Professional Development as an ongoing process.