5 replies to this topic

[mundia]

AS part of my new role in school (having given up the FS coordinator hat) I will be mentoring NQTs (we have 5). Those of you already doing this or having reently beent hrough NQT year, can you give me an idea of the requirements. I am failry sure they have all come in with a career entry profile, do I use this to create an action plan? IS that termly or half termly? How often do I need to observe them?
Do i need to plan for regular mentor meeting time like I do with the GTPs I mentor? Im familiar with the induction standards, that isnt a problem.
With NQTs and GTPs making up nearly half of our teaching staff, I want to get it right.

Ive been very ditsracted this holiday and trhink I need to get my head into gear and actually do some work!!

[tinkerbell]

Hi Mundi
I am mentoring a nqt this year too.The LEA has file that they send out with instructions so perhaps your LEA has one of these.I don't envy you the task of doing 5 ,you will have to geta timetable sorted out...I hope they are all good uns!
Tinkerbellx

[ACB]

You can't possibly mentor 5 NQTs, that just wouldn't be fair on you- or them! Yes, you formulate your action plan around their career entry profile and following discussion with him/her about what they want to target. ( Not very good grammar, but you know what I mean!) I always try to have an informal meeting each week to start, and then it slides a bit as the NQT develops confidence and knowledge of the school. I always had a formal lesson -monitoring session each half-term and the HT did as well. You have a three way end-of-term meeting (you 2 plus the HT each term, following which the HT writes the report for that term. Well, that's how we do it! Good luck!

acb :)

[catma]

there is DFes guidance around the statutory role of the LA/School/responsible body for the process so that may be a starting pioint, because if it's not done right and the NQT is at risk of failing you are in a jam! You have to complete the review forms termly and this includes a "formal" observation by HT or similar and then you state if NQT is on track to pass or not so problems have to be flagged up very early, ie by end of first term. There will be a responsible person in the LA for induction and they will have a handbook for the NQTs and induction tutors about what is required. There may well be a reception for all NQts to which tutors can go too (all boroughs I've worked in do this) The NQT will get 1/2 a day weekly for induction, some will be timetabled by the LA with input, some will be arranged with the tutor, e.g visiting a teacher in the school or similar. This is in addition to the PPA time, so NQt's do pretty well for NCT!!!! (Wasn't like that in my day - grumpy old woman grumble ) I also kept a very detailed log of meetings, formal and informal of discussions and agreed outcomes to show that as a school we were doing what we were required to do and to ensure no complaints could be made for lack of support.

A good book I used, although published in 1994 is "initiation rights, efective induction pratices for new teachers" by Peter EArley and KAy Kinder, NFER , ISBN 0 7005 1357 4. Don;t know if it's still in print or been updated but it did cover good practice effectively which doesn't change much!

DFES guidance on teachernet here

I also think 5 is a lot - will you be teaching too??
Cx

[mundia]

aha, I used to be superwoman in another life...yes i do have to do this and teach although I have lost my own class (sob), as well as GTP mentoring and trainee tecaher supervision! And I work part time.

Seriously though I am really the coordinator for NQTs (give me FS manager anyday) rather than personally supervising them all, but as some of the mentors havent done it before it might be helpful if I knew what wa s requied and I will have one of my own in the nursery with whom Ishall share planning as she doesnt have a year group partner. I will need to make sure teh NQTS go on teh right courses and get the right allocation of time with their mentors, so I will need to work out timetables and things for them to present to the Head.

It sounds fairly similar to the GTP stuff so I wont panic too much about it, because NQTS are a big part of our school, its quite a priority to get it right and its my head on the block iof we dont!

thnaks for the link Cathy..something else to add to my todo list..

[lizgriffin]

Have been NQT mentor for the past 2 years, not 5 at a time though!! Your county should provide mentor training, ring them or check the inset book - our training was very good and told us all we needed to know.
Basically my NQT's needed time, for themselves and to talk to you. Also be careful, you may ask 'are you ok?' and they will say yes, but really they aren't and need you to say 'What do you need help with today?' or something on those lines. Be gentle and understanding and praise when it is due - but you know that already!
Liz x