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Early career must-haves Keep a journal: Logging just a few lines each week helps you track your progress and spot patterns over time. Talk to others : Fellow ECTs, your mentor, or even staffroom chats can be a lifeline when things feel tough. You aren’t alone, and it’s highly likely that every struggle you encounter has been encountered and surmounted before. Set boundaries : It’s okay not to work every evening. Protecting your time is part of being a sustainable teacher, and you aren’t any help to your pupils if you’re burnt out. Trust the process: Growth takes time. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good; focus on the value of progress over instantaneous perfection. These actions will help you welcome your class and begin establishing routines and expectations early on, using learning moments as an opportunity to set a positive example. From there, you can focus on making deliberate choices to deepen and develop learning throughout the following terms, building on the foundations laid in the autumn. For example, your focus in the spring term might be to observe and tweak what isn’t working and expand on choices that are working well, and then in the summer term you can reflect on the past year, refine where possible, and look ahead to your second ECT year. Utilise your mentor Your mentor is your biggest asset during your ECT year. They’ve walked this path before and are there to guide you, not to catch you out. Use your weekly or fortnightly meetings to ask honest questions, share challenges, and reflect on what’s working – and what isn’t. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. Try to come prepared with something specific to discuss in each meeting, whether it’s a behaviour issue, a nightmare lesson, or an approach you’d like to try. These conversations are where the real professional growth happens. Don’t forget the structured training sessions you’ll attend as part of your provider’s programme, too. These are designed to connect the dots between theory and practice,and often offer time to collaborate with other ECTs. Take notes, ask questions, and look for one small idea to trial each week. Over time, these small actions will ~add up to big change. And remember, reflection is key. Build in time to pause, log your wins and setbacks, and acknowledge the journey you’re on. Having a dedicated notebook is really helpful. Thrive, don’t just survive It’s easy to get caught up in the daily demands of teaching, but pausing to acknowledge your progress is just as important as meeting your objectives. Growth in the ECT year isn’t always linear, and some weeks will feel like breakthroughs, while others will make you question all your life choices (we’ve all been there). It’s worth noting that even in those weeks you’re still learning! Small wins happen every time you reflect on a lesson that went well, handle a tricky moment with more confidence, or support a pupil more effectively than the day (or week) before. Keep a running record of these small wins, because they add up. Celebrate them with your mentor, colleagues, or “Your mentor is your biggest asset; they’re there to help you, not to catch you out” even just for yourself. You’re not simply surviving your ECT year, you’re building the habits, instincts, and mindset of an experienced teacher. With a clear view of the big-picture goals and a practical, term-by-term approach, you can move through your ECT year with confidence. Step by step, week by week, you’ll begin planting the seeds to grow into a prepared, purposeful teacher who makes a lasting impact in the classroom. TP Katrina is a qualified English teacher, and has a degree in journalism and a master’s in creative writing. linkedin.com/in/katrinaquick F EATURE S E C T www.teachwire.net | 43