Week 27: Mastery in Motion

Big Goal: Deliver confidently at 80% timetable while strengthening purposeful communication with parents and carers to support pupil success.

The Pulse (CCF Focus)

CCF / Teachers’ Standards Focus:

• TS1 (1d): Engaging parents and carers in pupils’ education, including proactively sharing successes.
• TS7 (7l): Liaising with parents, carers, and colleagues to better understand pupils’ circumstances and support high expectations.

Why this matters
At 80% teaching, trainees are now operating close to ECT-level expectations. Strategic communication with parents and carers helps remove barriers, reinforce positive behaviours, and ensures teaching decisions are informed by the whole child — not just classroom performance.

Weekly Target

• Initiate one purposeful parent/carer contact (celebration or concern).
• Reflect on progress since Assessment Point 2 and evaluate movement against your three targets.
• Complete Review 3 with your mentor.

Mentor Action (Deliberate Practice + Focused Observation)

• Focused Observation: Observe a pupil you teach in another environment (different subject, time, or context). Consider how engagement changes and how this informs your teaching.
• Deliberate Practice: Plan and script a home contact (praise or concern) linked to TS1 & TS7. Rehearse tone, clarity, and intended outcome before delivery.

The Toolkit: Mentor Bites Podcast 🎧

Mentor Bites – Espresso Edition: Building Trainee Resilience
Please support us by listening to this 6 minute training to support you to help your trainee as they step up to 80% and with other challenges. Click follow up be notified of new episodes.

Or https://open.spotify.com/show/01gtatzq8OuugQ4qmNfDHM?si=89d8046db69043ab 

Or Mentor Bites Podcast link:supporting this week's deliberate practice:

3-Minute Takeaway

• Resilience grows through structured reflection, not just experience.
• Mentors can strengthen resilience by normalising challenge and highlighting progress.
• Small, consistent wins — like successful parent contact — build professional confidence quickly.

Roadmap & Logistics

Phase: Phase 4 — Mastery
Teaching Allocation: SE2 Teaching 80%

Key Notes

• Trainees plan at ECT-level independence.
• Planning only submitted where individually agreed.
• Focus shifts from planning compliance to impact and professional judgement.

🎓 Training & Development

In-School Delivery Week
There is no central or subject training this week. The emphasis is on sustained 80% teaching, embedding routines, and operating with ECT-level autonomy.

Priority development comes through:

• Review 3 discussion
• Focused observation
• Deliberate practice (parent communication)
• Weekly podcast learning

The Expert Corner: Communicating with Parents

Pro-Tips

1. Lead with impact
Start with a specific example: “I wanted to share how well Jamie explained…” rather than general praise.

2. Be precise about next steps
When sharing concerns, clearly state what support looks like and how home can help.

3. Close positively and collaboratively
End with partnership language:
"I’m keen for us to work together to support..."

Reflection Prompt

As you complete Review 3, consider:

• How has the trainee improved since Assessment Point 2?
• What evidence shows progress against ?
• What now feels routine that previously felt challenging?
• Where will parent/carer communication support next steps?

Weekly Sign-Off

This week marks a significant milestone. Teaching at 80% requires confidence, clarity, and professional judgement. Keep communication purposeful, celebrate progress, and use Review 3 to recognise how far you’ve come.

Edwina

About The GUTP

The GUTP (Graduate Undergraduate Teacher Programme) is a school-centred ITT and SCITT provider supporting trainees to achieve QTS through evidence-informed practice across the East Midlands. Our curriculum blends instructional coaching, deliberate practice, and in-school immersion to develop confident, resilient early career teachers ready for long-term success.