Next July will mark three years since the government introduced its package of support to respond to the Covid pandemic. A key component of that support has been the investment in teacher development through the Early Career Framework (ECF) and in fully-funded National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). In terms of the whole education budget it is a modest investment, but it is vitally important in two ways.
First, it is proof that the government cares about teachers and leaders. Governments and politicians of all party affiliations make positive statements about supporting the profession, but through the investment in the ECF and NPQs this government has put its money where its mouth is. This is so important at a time when attracting people into teaching seems harder than ever.
Second, the evidence is clear that investing in effective professional development is the surest way of improving what happens in schools, at the front of the classroom. Put another way, investment in professional development is not just an investment in teachers – it is an investment in improving the outcomes for children, especially those who are most vulnerable. This is precisely why investing in professional development formed an integral part of the education recovery package.
