Primary and Early Years partnerships
Mentor CPD and support
Effective mentoring practice is at the heart of all effective ITE programmes. Following consultation with partner schools and Mentor Working Party we have identified the following useful links to help you navigate our virtual 'Mentor Handbook' which is on the Primary and Early Years Partnership pages on our BCU website. The following section on Mentoring BCU Associate Teachers - Useful Links will guide you to the relevant documentation to support your understanding.
Mentoring BCU Associate Teachers - Useful Links
Mentoring BCU Associate Teachers - Useful links with QR Codes
Primary Partnership
Supporting Associate Teachers
- Progress Journal Example -Year 2
- Weekly Mentor Meetings
- Critical Incident (support materials)
- Review and Progress Meetings (with Associate Teacher and University Tutor)
Mentoring Guidance
School Based Training Mentor Guidance Overview
BCU School Based Training Mentor Guidance Overview - This is a step by step flow chart to support mentor interactions with BCU Associate Teachers on their school based training.
School Based Training Mentor Guidance Handbooks 2023-24
Please access the relevant document for comprehensive details about all BCU mentoring processes.
The PGCE-BAQTS mentor guidance includes:
- BCU ITE Curriculum and BCU Curriculum Key Themes
- Key dates and Preliminary visits and support (modified for either PGCE/BA Year 1, Year 2 or Year 3)
- Placement information, Lesson Observations, Weekly Tasks
- Professional Development Discussion (including Critical Incident)
- Relevant proformas to support Associate Teachers
- Roles and Responsibilities including BCU Hub Leads
- Mentor Continued Professional Development (CPD)
Mentor Induction 2023-24
We ask that all mentors ITE Mentors - person responsible for ITT placements, has either joined live or has accessed the following Mentor Induction recording which lasts approximately 49 minutes or viewed the PowerPoint presentation.
- Click to view Mentor Induction PowerPoint 2023-24
- Click to access the Mentor Induction Video 2023-24
This Mentor Induction outlines:
- Welcome and updates
- Ways of working
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Mentoring Associate Teachers
- Supporting Documentation and CPD dates
- Market Review 2024
- Save the date - Wednesday 26 June 2024 - BCU Mentoring Conference
Please click on the relevant MS Teams link to join one of the repeater Mentor Induction drop-in dates:below:-
| Monday 9 October | 4.30 pm - 5.15 pm | Click to join meeting on 9 October |
| Tuesday 10 October | 4.30 pm - 5.15 pm | Click to join meeting on 10 October |
| Thursday 12 October | 4.30 pm - 5.15 pm | Click to join meeting on 12 October |
Links to the BCU ITE Curriculum: PGCE Primary and Early Years Curriculum and BAQTS Primary and Early Years Curriculum for an overview of all University taught content. You will also find subject specific prompts to support lesson observation feedback on our ITE curriculum page.
Mentor CPD Calendar 2023-24
We have created an overview calendar for all our courses. Click on the link to access the Mentor CPD Calendar
Mentor CPD
All Mentor CPD sessions will be delivered online via MS Teams.
The expectation is that all mentors will be encouraged to engage with CPD sessions 1 and 2 whether this is to attend a live, online session. Furhter CPD sessions have been organised to support new mentors and new schools to be able to support Associate Teachers in their school. In addition, we have organised live drop-in mentor sessions to support any questions about CPD content.
Your University Tutor is pivotal to supporting you in school, particularly during initial conversations, review and progress meetings and conducting a joint quality assurance observation.
The following CPD can be accessed live via MS Teams or from the recording, uploaded post the event. Click on the date to join the relevant session.
CPD 1 |
Monday 6 November or Thursday 9 November 2023 3.45 - 4.45 pm |
Focus: Giving effective feedback, written and verbal. What makes a good mentor or good mentoring? Supporting Associate Teachers in the critical incident step by step process. |
CPD 2 |
Tuesday 21 November or Thursday 23 November 3.45 - 4.45 pm |
Focus: Using the BCU ITE Curriculum to set appropriate SMART targets to support Associate Teacher development and progress. Critical incident update and quality of evidence. Assessing Associate Teachers accurately against the BCU ITE Assessment tracker. |
Drop-in |
Monday 27 November or Tuesday 28 November 4.00 - 5.00 pm |
Focus: Questions and answer drop-in session to support all mentors in school. |
CPD 3 |
Monday 22 January or Tuesday 23 January 4.00 - 5.00 pm |
Focus: Bespoke: Supporting new schools and mentors working with PGCE SBT2, BA Year 1 and BA Year 2 Associate Teachers. |
SEND Drop-in |
Monday 5 February or Thursday 8 February 2024 4.00 - 5.00 pm |
Focus: Questions and answer drop-in session to support all mentors in an SEND setting. |
CPD 4 |
Tuesday 5 March or Thursday 7 March 2024 3.45 - 4.45 pm |
Focus: Challenging our Associate Teachers to use their developing subject knowledge to have an impact on the learners in their class. How does the Progress meeting demonstrate professional competency? |
Drop-in |
Monday 22 April or Tuesday 23 April 4.00 - 5.00 pm |
Focus: Questions and answer drop-in session to support all mentors in school. |
Ways of working for 2023-24 for Primary and Early Years Mentors
- BCU Hub Leads - University colleagues supporting ITE Mentors or the person who is in charge of mentoring within school to quality assure the systems and processes in place to support the development of our Associate Teachers in schools.
- BCU Hub Leads - will host drop-ins to support ITE Mentors or the person who is in charge of placements to facilitate a networking opportunity
- All class teachers are 'mentors'.
- University Tutors will work with individual Associate Teachers in school and liaise with Mentors during their school based placement.
- Mentor Standards Tracker for CPD Mentors can, if they so wish use this document as an option to track their own development.
Further CPD for Mentors
Haili Hughes, author of 'Mentoring in schools - how to become an expert colleague' (2021) delivered a seminar for our partnership schools. View YouTube Link to access.
Contact details: Haili Hughes (@HughesHaili and hali.hughes@outlook.com)
Content includes:
- Mentors: Facilitating the pedagogical progress of novice teachers
- Building reciprocal relationships
- Conducting effective meetings
- Feedback and practice - including the use of deliberate practice
- Being an effective facilitator
- Learning to thrive - not just survive
Contacts
For partnership enquiries, please contact the Partnership Team on +44 (0) 121 331 7175 or email education.partnerships@bcu.ac.uk