At Inspire Learning Teaching School Hub (TSH), we don’t just coordinate and deliver professional development programmes such as the Early Career Framework (ECF) and National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). We’re also an Appropriate Body for the ECF and will be for the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE) when it is introduced in September 2025. As the Department for Education’s (DfE) TSH for Liverpool and Wirral, we are in a unique position to provide schools with the very best support and guidance.

What is an Appropriate Body?

As an Appropriate Body we ensure Early Career Teachers (ECTs) receive the necessary training and support from their school to equip them in becoming effective and successful teachers. The appointment of an Appropriate Body is a statutory requirement, outlined by the DfE, which must be in place throughout the entirety of an ECT’s two-year programme.

What does an Appropriate Body do?

An Appropriate Body has the main quality assurance role across the two-year programme when teachers are ECTs. As an independent body, we establish that headteachers of schools with ECTs understand their commitment and meet all responsibilities required when employing an ECT, even down to ensuring the guidance and procedures they have in place are both reasonable and suitable.

What are the benefits to schools of working with TSHs who also act as an Appropriate Body?

TSHs, who also act an Appropriate Body, offer several benefits to schools including:

• Streamlined support – we work with headteachers, induction tutors, mentors and ECTs to ensure no stone is left unturned
• Expertise – we know every step of the two-year programme from registration through to completion so can be on hand to guide schools
• Broader network – we have partnered with over 290 schools, supported more than 3,000 ECTs and worked with 70 facilitators since the ECF programme launched in 2021. Regardless of the changes from September 2025, our network is always increasing which means schools are able to build new relationships and connections with others across the region.

The DfE actively encourages schools to appoint their local TSH as their Appropriate Body. This can also prove particularly helpful for schools with new induction tutors, those who have not recently had ECTs or appoint fewer ECTs. This was certainly the case for Calday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby, Wirral.

Ashleigh Jones, ECF and associate teacher development coordinator, embarked on her journey as the school’s induction tutor in 2021 with little knowledge of how rewarding the experience would be and the support she’d receive from Inspire TSH.

Ashleigh commented: “The Inspire team has never failed to provide help and guidance for myself, my mentors and our ECTs. Not only do they have a wealth of knowledge on the ECF, but they have the capability of forming fantastic working relationships with the schools under their supervision.”

During the four years that Ashleigh has been completing the role, she’s had the opportunity to meet many members of our team at various “clear and well-managed” training sessions and visits including Jane Kennedy, director of Inspire TSH, Victoria Jackson, strategic lead for Appropriate Body Services and Cat Skinner, Initial Teaching Training (ITT) strategic lead and quality assurance assessor.

Ashleigh added: “When Inspire became the Appropriate Body, the structure and expectations for ECT Progress Reviews changed somewhat. What could have been a daunting process, with the reports becoming much more detailed and thorough, became such a smooth transition because of the support and training provided by Inspire TSH.

“‘The proof is in the pudding’ as they say and, this year, our school received some encouraging feedback during Inspire TSH’s Quality Assurance process.”

‘The support in place for ECTs at Calday Grange Grammar School is excellent’ was just one of the many positivecomments that made up the school’s feedback report, that also included constructive tips around the use of the Teacher’ Standards Tracker.

After Calday Grange Grammar School received the report from its QA visit, Ashleigh and her mentors were congratulated by the senior leadership team and headteacher on the success of the ECF implementation at the school.

Ashleigh said: “I truly believe that Inspire TSH has played an integral role in my development as an induction tutor and I look forward to our long-standing working relationship.”

Don’t forget, if you’ve employed or will be employing an ECT ready for September 2025, you must register them no later than the first two weeks of the academic year and assign them to an appropriate body. Registration is open now, so what are you waiting for?

To find out more about the registration process click here