Stepping Stones provides support, challenge, and professional learning for post-probationary teachers in the first four years of their career.

Pilot programme

In our pilot Stepping Stones year from 2022 to 2023, this is what we learned:

• the importance and value of having a mentor or supporter has been repeatedly highlighted by early career teachers
• professional learning needs to be contextual, relevant, and provide local opportunities for engagement
• opportunities to connect nationally were of lesser importance at this stage than making local connections
• provide support through continuing practitioner enquiry and guiding participants to relevant research and reading
• Stepping Stones and early career teacher programmes within local authorities support those on supply or temporary contracts, who otherwise would feel lost in the process

Reflections

Education Scotland, The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland) and Columba 1400 worked in partnership to develop Stepping Stones and met in June to reflect on:

• programme developments
• feedback from 2022 to 2023 participants
• the early career teacher listening exercise
• the probation managers involved in the ambassador pilot

Plans for the year ahead

The Stepping Stones Ambassador programme for those working with early career teachers is being developed with probationer managers by GTC Scotland in partnership with Columba 1400. This programme complements existing local authority support for early career teachers.

We will continue to work in partnership to support local authorities to introduce the ambassador programme in context and look forward to engaging with, and learning from, more local authorities in this upcoming phase of the programme. In line with our learning so far, there will be greater emphasis on supporting the emerging needs of ambassadors.

Direct support from Education Scotland for early career teachers will now be moved to a new open access page on the refreshed Education Scotland website. This means that early career teachers will no longer need to register for Stepping Stones on Education Scotland's website, removing any barriers to accessing resources.

Future Professional Learning

Please provide us with your contact information if you would like to be kept informed about future Professional Learning programmes and events.