Mentoring an NQT

[GutterStar]

Has anyone here mentored a Newly Qualified teacher during their Induction year? And if so, please could you let me know your experiences, any tips to help us out, anything at all that you think I ought to know?
I'm mentoring our new member of staff next year. She was actually placed with me in my class this term for her final PGCE placement, so we already know each other well. I've been hosting and mentoring student teachers for three years now, so I'm confident in that, but this is my first time mentoring an NQT. She will be taking over the year group I've been teaching for the past six years (I'm moving year group), which means I know the curriculum and the expectations for the children very well.
I'm excited about this opportunity, it's something I have been hoping for for a while, I just want to hear from others who have already done this role and get any advice you can offer.
Thank you!

I have and enjoy it. Best advice i was given is be available but don't be on call.

I find NQTs need more guidance on things they don't do much of in their training e.g data, tricky conversations with parents, multi agency working, managing whole school voluntary things etc.

They'll need observing and mentor meetings but school will decide how that's done.

Otherwise just being a friendly point of contact day to day is pretty good. I always think it takes a team to support an NQT.

I also have both my first NQT and first student next year. I am in Special so we don't get that many of either.

I think my NQT will be fine as she has a strong background in SEN and I just need to get her up on her feet with the actual teaching and help her manage her workload (I think she's a perfectionist which will have to go!!). The student I'm less sure about because she's new to SEN and will have to teach my class- and they are hard!! I love them but I wouldn't have wanted them for my first time.

It is a great thing to do, but there are formal expectations - e.g. you have to write three reports over the year and say whether the NQT is on track to pass. It is your role to monitor and set targets, as well as to support, advise and coordinate development opportunities. My top tip would be really clear in your record keeping. Don't need tons of detail or loads of evidence copying, but signed and dated notes of your meetings, proper observation records, some way of tracking which of the standards she has met and which are still targets.