Probation process
If you are completing all or the majority of your probation in one school, your probationary service should follow a structured process, outlined below. If you are not able to complete your probation service in a structured way, you should still refer to the process outlined below to help you understand each element and how each is linked together. Whatever way you complete your probation requirement, it is important to gather your paperwork and record your information as you go along. This will give you a neat and succinct professional development portfolio, which will be a great help when you eventually come to complete your Interim Report or Final Report. It is vital that you tell the headteacher of your school that you have a probationary period to complete. They may be able to make arrangements to have relevant support put in place for you.
Professional Development Action Plan (PDAP)
If you are fortunate enough to have a supporter you should work together to set some targets for the next stage of your teaching career. These should be drawn up in the Professional Development Action Plan (PDAP), which forms part of your Interim and Final reports.
If you do not have a supporter, try to meet with a departmental head or headteacher regularly review your progress.
Teaching service
For teaching service of fewer than 20 days in one school, you should keep a record of these days on a Record of Teaching Service form.
For periods of teaching service amounting to more than 20 days an Interim Report should be submitted either at the end of your teaching within the school or at the end of each term if you are employed on a contract.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Select areas identified in your PDAP as a focus for your Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and record your progress.
Supporter Meetings
If you are fortunate enough to have a supporter, then your meetings should have a focus directly linked to your development needs.
Observed Teaching Sessions
There should be regular Observed Teaching Sessions with feedback recorded on your Observed Teaching Feedback form.
If you are undertaking short-term or supply work, you may find it difficult to arrange an Observed Teaching Session. However, your headteacher will need feedback from at least one observed session in order to make a recommendation on your Interim or Final Report.
Interim Report
At the end of each term, or after you have completed a period of short-term teaching service of more than 20 days you should arrange to have an Interim Report completed.Final Report
Information and evidence gathered since the submission of your previous Interim Report will form the basis of your Final Report.
Once you have completed your Final Report, you should keep a copy for your records and submit the original document to us. It is your responsibility to ensure these reports are completed and submitted.
Find out how we process Final Reports and what happens next.
