Welcome to the Embrace Appropriate Body Service

What is an Appropriate Body Service? 

The appointment of an Appropriate Body is a statutory requirement for the induction period of all Early Career Teachers (ECTs).   

The Appropriate Body provides a quality assurance role in the statutory induction of ECTs in all schools and settings. They are responsible for ensuring that ECTs receive their statutory entitlements in line with the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE). They ensure that the support, assessment and guidance procedures in place are fair and appropriate.  

It is the Appropriate Body that makes the final decision as to whether an ECT has met the Teachers’ Standards on the recommendation of the Headteacher/Principal.   

Teaching School Hubs are the main providers of Appropriate Body Service. Schools are encouraged to choose their local Teaching School Hub as their Appropriate Body unless they have specific reasons to go elsewhere.

What is the Early Career Teacher Programme? 

The Early Career Teacher Programme is a professional development programme that provides training for both Early Career Teachers and Mentors. The training programme should be based on the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF).  

We welcome ECT registrations from all schools regardless of the ECT Programme that you have chosen. 

Please see the statutory guidance on Induction for early career teachers (England) for more information.  

For more information, please get in touch via email: tsh@embrace.education.co.uk  

Why Choose Us?

Embrace Teaching School Hub provides a professional Appropriate Body service, through a highly experienced team that supports the induction of ECTs in all schools and settings. Our service provides guidance, advice and training relating to the induction process and quality assurance of your ECT Entitlement provision. 

We provide timely, specialist advice and support as required. We use ECT Manger for the easy management of the Appropriate Body Service. We support Induction Tutors with access to flexible, high-quality training

Our Offer

The Appropriate Body Service from Embrace Teaching School Hub includes: 

  • Registering and monitoring the progress of an ECT during induction 
  • Reporting the outcomes of the ECT induction to the Department for Education 
  • Providing advice and guidance on the induction of ECTs for Headteachers/Principals, Governors, Induction Tutors and ECTs 
  • Providing ongoing training and development on Induction Assessment to Induction Tutors and ECTs 
  • Ensuring ECTs receive their statutory entitlement of induction and ECTP training. 
  • Providing guidance if an ECT is at risk of failing to meet the Teachers’ Standards by the end of the assessment period, and advising on support for the ECT 
  • Phone/email/online support for Headteachers/Principals, Induction Tutors and ECTs 
  • School Support Visits 

Costs

There are two approaches that schools can choose from to enable the delivery of a training programmed based on the ITTECF. The Embrace Appropriate Body Service is offered for the two different routes a school can take to deliver the Early Career Teacher Programme (ECTP).  

Each route is priced to reflect the level of work required.  

Route 1: Provider-led, a funded provider-led programme Route 2: School-led, Schools deliver their own training programme (with the option to use freely available school-led materials and resources) 

Included: Ensure ECTs are fairly and regularly assessed through monitoring reports and formal assessment. Guidance and support for school, ECT and Induction Tutor.

Included: As previous, with an additional service to conduct a Fidelity Check. 

Cost per ECT: £180 per year

Cost per ECT: £180 per year

Cost per school: No additional cost

Cost per school: £262.50 per year 

Cost per ECT is based on £60 per term. 

Reduced Inductions, if required, are charged at £60 + a £30 administration fee.  

These charges are fixed until 31st August 2026 and will be reviewed annually, with any changes taking effect from 1st September the following year.

Registering your ECT with the Embrace AB Service 

An ECT cannot start their induction until they are registered with an Appropriate Body. 

There are three places a school must register their ECT. 

  • With an Appropriate Body service. An ECT cannot start their induction until they are registered with an Appropriate Body Service.   
  • On the DfE online Service. 
  • With an ECF provider (if using a DfE funded training provider). 

Please visit Register ECTs & Mentors for further advice on registering your ECT.