The Essex County Council local authority appropriate body (AB) is no longer allowed to accept any new early career teachers (ECTs). This is because DfE now expects schools and settings to register ECTs with the teaching school hub appropriate body (AB) for their local area.
This means teaching school hubs (TSHs) are now the main providers of AB services and local authorities no longer carry out this role. This is in response to the Opportunity for All white paper published in March 2022.
For more information on this white paper use DfE’s Opportunity for All: strong schools with great teachers for your child policy paper.
ABs have the main quality assurance role in statutory teacher induction.
Main points
Schools that would normally access AB services through Essex AB need to make sure they register all new ECTs with a TSH AB.
Schools that have ECTs currently registered with Essex AB will continue to receive our full support through to completion of induction or until July 2024 (whichever comes first).
Schools that have ECTs currently registered with Essex AB, who are not scheduled to complete their induction by September 2024, will be transferred to a TSH AB of the school's choice towards the end of the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
We will then work in close partnership with the TSH ABs to make sure there’s a smooth transition for you and your ECTs.
To find out more we recommend you read DfE’s Appropriate body reforms briefing pack (PDF, 248KB).
If you have any further questions, contact us by emailing essexect@essex.gov.uk