Every year 40,000 new teachers join the workforce having completed their initial teacher training (ITT).

Although these professionals will have gained skills and knowledge from their training, turning that theory into practice in their induction year can be daunting.

In a recent government survey, only 59% of primary newly-qualified teachers (NQTs) thought their ITT prepared them for interacting with parents and carers. Nearly a quarter of secondary NQTs did not feel that their training enabled them to teach pupils from all ethnic backgrounds.

Essex Education Services provides the Essex teacher training model on behalf of the local authority, which encourages aspiring teachers onto its school-based teacher training programmes. Trainees on the School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) and School Direct schemes spend the majority of their time in the classroom, easing the transition between their training and the NQT year. With so many new teachers applying from outside its catchment, the local authority in Essex is also experienced at helping teachers who have not benefited from its tuition.

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