The government will revise and rename the early career framework (ECF) programme for new teachers, ahead of a “full review” of the scheme in 2027. Introduced in 2021, guarantees continuing development, training and mentoring for new teachers in their first two years in the classroom. Ahead of the election, Labour pledged to review the programme. Now it has fleshed out those plans, alongside the announcement of a review of national professional qualifications (NPQs). Here’s what you need to know. 1. A full ECF review in 2027鈥 The government has announced that a 鈥渇ull review鈥 of the ECF will take place in 2027. It will 鈥渇ocus on teaching pupils with SEND and mentoring鈥, and the government said it recognised 鈥渢hat there is more work to do in these areas鈥. 鈥淭aking a longer-term approach will allow us the time to take account of the latest evidence and any implications following our reforms to the SEND system鈥. 2. 鈥ith ECF ‘revised’ and renamed in meantime Ahead of the 2027 review, the DfE said it would be 鈥渞evising and improving delivery of what was formerly referred to as the ECF programme by introducing the early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) from September 2025鈥. Like the ECF, the ECTE will provide a two-year period of support and training for early career teachers (ECTs). It too will include a training programme, mentor support, time off timetable for training and mentoring activities, regular progress reviews and assessment with expert colleagues. The DfE confirmed the combined initial teacher training and early career framework (ITTECF), which sets out the content trainees and new teachers should cover, will still come into effect in September 2025 as planned. 3. 鈥榃orkload, flexibility, contextualisation鈥 improvements The DfE said changes introduced in September 2025 would focus on improving 鈥渕entor workload, flexibility, and contextualisation鈥. These changes are being made in response to the last ECF review, which was carried out in 2023. From September, “the training requirement for new mentors will be shortened from two years to one year in order to reduce mentor workload”. The government had already scrapped minimum hours of training for mentors used in initial teacher training last year. Lead providers will also introduce mentor session materials so mentors can spend their time with ECTs rather than planning sessions and creating resources, while new diagnostic tools will help focus on aspects ECTs most need to develop. 4. Schools to receive 鈥榩ackage of support鈥 Schools will also be given a package of support including 鈥渇ree materials for schools to train their own mentors鈥. Improvements will be made to training materials available for those teaching SEND pupils, the DfE said. The DfE will also review charges made to schools for quality assurance, to ensure the school-led route 鈥渋s not financially restricting鈥. Schools designing their own training are charged by their 鈥榓ppropriate body鈥 for programme quality assurance checks each time they take on a new teacher. The DfE says it planned to strengthen the guidance to ensure appropriate bodies are 鈥渙nly charging what they need to鈥. It will also streamline the registration process meaning schools that want to deliver their own training can spend less time on admin. 5. Number of accredited ECF providers drops to five The number of accredited ECF providers has dropped from six to five. Ambition Institute, Education Development Trust, Teach First, UCL Institute of Education and National Institute of Teaching will all remain training providers from September 2025. Meanwhile Best Practice Network will no longer be an accredited provider. 6. NPQ review launched The government on Friday also announced a review of the framework for national professional qualifications (NPQs), with sector experts to advise on how to boost SEND, executive leadership and workload reduction skills in courses. The previous government reformed the suite of NPQs, alongside introducing a new early career framework, as part of its 鈥榞olden thread鈥 of teacher development reforms. NPQs were offered for free as part of a 拢184 million Covid recovery plan scheme, but funding was massively scaled back by the Conservatives last year. 7. NPQ review to focus on four key areas The review will look at making sure NPQs are providing better training in four key areas: SEND, leadership progression, workload reduction, and operational leadership. It will look at ensuring NPQs offering the 鈥渂est practice鈥 for teaching pupils with special needs. The review is also due to look at how leaders can make choices that support workload reduction, and best practice in operational aspects of leadership 鈥 such as 鈥渂udget management and workforce deployment鈥. The government has also committed to delivering a teacher training entitlement to 鈥渆nsure teachers stay up to date on best practice with continuing professional development鈥. 8. The NPQ expert panel members Shazia Azhar, Spring Grove Junior and Infant School Dr Herminder Channa OBE, Oasis Susan Douglas, Eden Academy Trust Keziah Featherstone, The Mercian Trust Dr Neil Gilbride, Ambition Institute David Monis-Weston, Purposeful Ventures Reuben Moore, National Institute of Teaching Chris Paterson, Education Endowment Foundation Dr Cat Scutt, Chartered College of Teaching Sonia Thompson, St. Matthew鈥檚 C.E. Primary Research and Support School Lisa Walsh, Grove Street Primary School