ECT CPD Programme
Launching Great International Careers
Designed exclusively for Early Career Teachers working in British Schools Overseas, the ESP ECT CPD Programme combines internationally recognised expertise with practical strategies for the classroom.
Delivered online throughout the academic year, the programme supports ECTs at every stage of statutory induction, helping them build confidence, strengthen their practice and thrive during the formative years of their teaching careers.
Professional learning designed for ECTs overseas
Beginning a teaching career in an international school brings exciting opportunities alongside new professional challenges. The ESP ECT CPD Programme has been created specifically for ECTs undertaking statutory induction in BSO-accredited schools.
Building on the success of our inaugural programme, the 2026/27 series brings together leading educational thinkers, experienced practitioners and specialist Appropriate Body guidance.
Across ten carefully selected sessions, ECTs will explore:
Successful preparation for statutory induction
Professional resilience and wellbeing
Safeguarding in an international school
Formative assessment
Evidencing progress against the Teachers’ Standards
Working effectively with Teaching Assistants
Quality First Teaching
SEND, inclusion and adaptive teaching
Maintaining motivation and professional fulfilment
Preparing confidently for the end-of-year assessment
Every session focuses on practical approaches that ECTs can apply directly within their classrooms.
Programme schedule
Welcome to ECT Induction
12 October 2026 at 13:00 UK
Delivered by Mark Bignell
A comprehensive introduction to undertaking statutory ECT induction overseas. ECTs will explore the requirements of induction, important milestones, assessment points and the support available through ESP Education.
The session will provide ECTs with a clear roadmap for the year ahead, including how to establish productive relationships with Mentors and Induction Tutors and make the most of every professional development opportunity.
Thrive, Don’t Just Survive: Ensuring a High-Impact ECT Journey
26 October 2026 at 12:00 UK
Delivered by Amanda Picillo
The first years of teaching can be among the most rewarding and demanding stages of a professional career.
This engaging session will help ECTs develop resilience, maintain motivation and establish habits that support long-term success. Participants will consider practical approaches to workload, wellbeing, professional confidence and personal effectiveness, helping them move beyond simply coping to genuinely thriving.
Safeguarding for ECTs: The Essentials
2 November 2026 at 12:00 UK
Delivered by The Safeguarding Alliance
Safeguarding is fundamental to every teacher’s role. This practical session will help ECTs recognise concerns, follow reporting procedures and maintain professional vigilance within a British international school.
Through practical examples and realistic scenarios, participants will explore child protection, professional boundaries, online safety and their role in creating a culture where every pupil feels safe, valued and heard.
Assessment With Impact: Making Assessment Count
9 November 2026 at 12:00 UK
Delivered by Professor Dylan Wiliam
Led by one of the world’s foremost educational thinkers, this session will explore how assessment can become one of the most powerful tools available to classroom teachers.
Professor Dylan Wiliam will introduce evidence-informed strategies that help teachers identify what pupils understand, uncover misconceptions and adapt teaching in real time. ECTs will leave with manageable formative assessment techniques capable of making an immediate difference to learning.
Evidencing Performance During ECT Induction
30 November 2026 at 12:00 UK
Delivered by Mark Bignell
Assessment and evidence collection do not need to become a source of anxiety. This practical and reassuring session will demystify the Teachers’ Standards and explain how ECTs can demonstrate their progress throughout induction.
Participants will learn what effective evidence looks like, how professional reflection can be used successfully and how to avoid common mistakes. The session will help ECTs develop an authentic, proportionate and manageable approach to evidencing their professional growth.
From Support to Success: Unlocking the Power of ECT and TA Collaboration
13 January 2027 at 12:00 UK
Delivered by Eva Cartwright
Effective collaboration with Teaching Assistants and support staff can significantly improve classroom practice and outcomes for pupils.
This session will explore communication, collaborative planning and classroom systems that make the best use of every adult in the room. ECTs will strengthen their emerging leadership skills while learning how to create positive and effective working relationships with support colleagues.
Beyond Good: Quality First Teaching in Action
25 January 2027 at 12:00 UK
Delivered by Amanda Picillo
What transforms competent teaching into exceptional classroom practice?
Through practical examples and opportunities for reflection, ECTs will explore adaptive teaching, effective questioning, classroom culture and evidence-informed lesson design. The session will help participants refine their practice and create learning experiences that engage, challenge and inspire every pupil.
Every Learner Counts: A Practical Guide to Navigating SEN
10 February 2027 at 12:00 UK
Delivered by Dr Anita Devi
Inclusive teaching sits at the heart of effective classroom practice.
Dr Anita Devi will help ECTs strengthen their understanding of SEND, adaptive teaching and approaches that promote inclusion and equity while maintaining high expectations. Practical guidance, classroom ready strategies and case studies will build participants’ confidence in meeting a wide range of learner needs.
You Matter Too: Tools for Maintaining Wellbeing
17 February 2027 at 12:00 UK
Delivered by Dr Andy Cope
Teaching is a profession built around caring for others, but sustained professional success also requires teachers to care for themselves.
Renowned wellbeing expert and the UK’s first Doctor of Happiness, Dr Andy Cope, will introduce practical approaches to positive psychology, stress management and maintaining perspective during demanding periods. Packed with humour and insight, the session will help ECTs protect their enthusiasm, energy and professional fulfilment.
Nail Your Year-End Assessment
10 May 2027 at 13:00 UK
Delivered by Mark Bignell
As the academic year draws to a close, this session will help ECTs prepare confidently for their annual assessment and the next stage of induction.
Participants will receive clear guidance on organising evidence, demonstrating impact against the Teachers’ Standards and presenting their professional growth effectively. ECTs will leave feeling prepared, reassured and ready to approach the assessment process positively.
Why choose the ESP ECT CPD Programme?
Created for British Schools Overseas
Every session reflects the distinctive opportunities and challenges experienced by ECTs beginning their careers in British international schools.
Internationally recognised expertise
ECTs will learn from Professor Dylan Wiliam, Dr Andy Cope, Dr Anita Devi, The Safeguarding Alliance and a range of highly respected educational leaders and practitioners.
Practical classroom application
The programme focuses on strategies that can be implemented immediately and translated into stronger teaching and improved outcomes for pupils.
Support throughout statutory induction
Specialist sessions help ECTs understand the induction process, demonstrate progress against the Teachers’ Standards and approach assessment points with confidence.
Flexible and accessible
All sessions are delivered online and recorded, giving ECTs access to high-quality professional development wherever they are based.
Programme fee
£300 per ECT
The fee provides access to the complete 2026/27 programme of ten online professional development sessions.
Give your ECTs the strongest possible start
Invest in the confidence, wellbeing and professional practice of your Early Career Teachers while supporting them throughout their statutory induction journey.
To register your ECTs or discuss the programme, email mark@espeducation.co.uk.