How to register for the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) 2026/27

Registering for the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP) involves a few straightforward steps with both your chosen Delivery Partner and the Department for Education (DfE). 

Registration is completed through the DfE using the register early career teachers service, while EDT works with you separately to confirm your Delivery Partner. 

How the process works 

1. Register your ECTs and mentors with the DfE on the register early career teachers service and select EDT as the training provider. 
2. EDT receives your details from the DfE and sends you an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to confirm your delivery arrangements. 

If you have previously worked with EDT: 

• the DfE will invite the DfE-registered school induction tutor to log in and add new ECTs and mentors 

• details of new ECTs and mentors will be sent to EDT with your existing Delivery Partner partnership. 

If you are new to working with EDT: 

Step 1: Identify a Delivery Partner 

Before registering new participants, you will need to select a Delivery Partner to work with. 

• Use our Delivery Partner map to find a provider local to you. 

• Contact them directly to confirm your partnership.
  

If you’re unsure which partner to choose, or cannot see one in your area, please contact ecf@edt.org for support. 

Step 2: Register with the DfE 

The DfE will contact your school directly. 

You will need to: 

• access the register early career teacher service 

• add details for each ECT and mentor and confirm their training provider 

• ensure all email addresses are accurate and active. 

You can also use this service to update participant details. 

If you do not already have access, you will need to set up a DfE sign‑in account.  

Step 3: Confirm your Delivery Partner with EDT 

Once your DfE registration is complete: 

• EDT will email the DfE-registered school induction tutor asking them to select the Delivery Partner they wish to work with. Once selected, EDT will confirm a partnership to the DfE. 

• EDT will receive your participant information directly. 

Managing changes 

If there are any changes to your school’s details, these should be made via the DfE service. 

This includes: 

• changes to your induction tutor 

• updates to participant details. 

EDT will receive these updates automatically and update your records. 

What about existing cohorts? 

If you already have ECTs who started in previous academic years (such as 2023/24, 2024/25 or 2025/26), they will continue on their existing programme. 

You do not need to re-register these participants through the new cohort process. 

FAQs 

Do I register with EDT? 

No – all participant registration is completed through the DfE.

When will I be contacted? 

The DfE will contact the DfE-registered school induction tutor directly. 

I am struggling to register participants on the DfE service. 

If you are having issues adding participants, please contact the DfE helpdesk email.  

 What happens after I register? 

EDT will receive your details and follow up to confirm your Delivery Partner and next steps. 

I have not received an email from EDT to select a Delivery Partner. 

If you are new to working with EDT, please ensure your school has added ‘ecfnoreply@edt.org’ to your email allow list to avoid messages being blocked. 

My Delivery Partner cannot see my participants’ details. 

If you have registered a participant and their details are not appearing for your Delivery Partner, please check they are registered on the DfE register early career teachers service, and you have selected EDT as their training provider.  

If these details are correct, please send a screenshot of the registration, including school name and participant name, to your Delivery Partner to investigate further. 

Need support? 

If you have any questions about the process or choosing a Delivery Partner, email our team and we will be happy to help.