For early career teachers (ECTs), the pandemic has been a learning curve like no other: from school closures that forced them to teach remotely to being back in the classroom “teaching from the front” with visors strapped to their foreheads, it has been a whirlwind.
But while it has been tough, it has also been an opportunity to build resilience and develop new ways of working. As such, as schools look to a post-pandemic future, the innovation, adaptability and resilience of ECTs is something to be harnessed and utilised.
Here are six ways to do just that and invest in an innovative workforce for the academic year ahead - and beyond.
1. Welcome all ideas and questions
Creating an approachable culture for ECTs to ask all the questions they have brewing away will be key. The induction day will prepare and reassure new teachers, but the “no question is a stupid question” notion will be all the more important going forward when you have a workforce that has entered the profession in a way unlike any cohort before it.
2. Make mentors count
ECT mentors will be one of the most valuable tools in the ECT support kit this year. As well as moulding the type of teacher they may become with time, mentors can instil the confidence they vitally need.
Be sure to offer training and help mentors to help ECTs, as they will assist in ensuring their success.
3. Be aware of what was missed
When planning for continuing professional development opportunities, consider where there may be gaps in ECTs’ learning.
Teaching from the front has taken precedent, as has remote learning; opportunities for tactile and collaborative activities were virtually non-existent for most of the year.
Just like the students, ECTs need scaffolding to help them catch up in these areas.
4. Harness ECTs’ digital skills
Although they have had to adapt to a more Covid-safe style of teaching and learning, this has come with unique benefits - not least their digital skill sets.
As an ECT community, they will truly understand that there will be no more snow days in the future.
Their experience with setting home learning, using platforms such as Loom, Zoom and web resources, will still be an asset, even if they do not return to fully remote learning at any point.
When an ECT joins a well-established department, these skills should be harnessed wherever possible.
For instance, using virtual platforms to enrich extracurricular activities (such as school magazines and school councils) could become second nature to ECTs.
And with blended learning likely to continue to some degree in future, the combined experiences of ECTs on how to manage this in different contexts has the potential to be a huge boost to the school workforce.
5. Bring the school community together
Events such as World Book Day and sports day can be integral for building relationships between staff and students. The pandemic took some of the most important elements of such events away from teachers.
Make sure that these events take place this year, if at all possible. Not only are they important for bringing people together, they are great ways to help ECTs quickly become part of the overall community spirit of a school - and get to know students well, too.
6. Help staff get into the social swing of things
For teachers at all career stages, making connections with one another is vital. This is especially true for ECTs.
When, for example, a new teacher has moments of uncertainty or nervousness, or is struggling to teach a particular concept, sharing this with other ECTs and even last year’s NQTs will be a relief.
Make sure ECTs have ring-fenced time to get to know one another and other school staff, so that colleagues are not strangers but allies that can offer help, advice and support.
All in all, while the past year has featured the good, the bad and the ugly, it has also been a time for teamwork.
ECTs may need your support in creating opportunities to collaborate but they can be an asset to your school community.
If you invest in them, they will deliver the same energy back to schools.
Naomi Sykes is an English teacher starting her ECT year at Endeavour Learning Trust this September
