Support plan 

Overview of the support plan 

Occasionally a trainee’s teaching performance may not match the appropriate standards. If this situation is left unchecked, it can have negative consequences for the trainee and the placement provider. Should a subject mentor be concerned about the standard of a trainee’s performance (including professionalism), they should make this very clear to the trainee and inform the university course leader as a matter of priority at the earliest opportunity. 

We have identified the following broad areas that would signal cause for concern specifically in relation to Progress Review:

1.    Attendance/Punctuality ‐ Unexplained or unreasonable absence, persistent lateness.

2.    Preparation ‐ Habitual lack of proper planning, care or thoroughness.

3.    Commitment ‐ Unwillingness to attend meetings/ open evenings.

4.    Ability To Listen To Advice ‐ Failure to act upon reasonable advice and guidance.

5.    Professional Relationships with Staff/Pupils ‐ This includes issues of professional conduct.

6. Lack Of Critical Self‐Awareness ‐ The trainee fails to recognise problems, does not take advice and blames pupils or school for difficulties.

7. Failure To Abide by The University Professional Code of Conduct ‐ This refers to a document signed by all trainees at the start of the PGCE year.

The subject mentor, in discussion with the university course leader, may feel that further support is required in the form of a focused intervention to enable a trainee to make the progress expected for their stage of training. In such cases, the university course leader should be contacted as early as possible. Under their guidance and with consultation, a ‘Support Plan’ will need to be set. This will then need to be signed by the trainee, Subject Mentor and university course leader and reviewed in the agreed timeframe.

This is the first step to support improved teaching that must be formally recognised to proceed with the ITE placement.

If sufficient progress has been made, then the trainee will follow the scheduled placement. If the outcome of the judgement is that insufficient progress has been made, then an intervention ‘Support Plan 2’ will be put in place for the trainee.

Please see the Mentor FORMS pdf handbook for worked examples of the support plan and flow diagram for the intervention.

If issues arise during the placement, Subject Mentors must contact the university course leader immediately via email so that the relevant support can be provided.

Support plan (blank form) - you will need to download a copy before editing. 

Support plan - worked example