ECT tips?

[Toomanytakeaways]

I did my PGCE several years ago and have only ever done day to day supply since. I have got a long-term role for September as an ECT (through a supply agency) which I'm excited about but also nervous!
I literally got the job the last day of term in July so no chance to visit the school or anything.
Do I start planning things over summer? All I know is that I'll have every year group, I feel like I should be already planning things for some reason? Don't know what to expect!

How would you know what to plan? Sounds like you need to go into school and find out what's what. Have you made contact with HOD? Appreciate it's not easy over summer but I think you should make contact with someone if you want to get started. Congratulations and good luck.

In terms of your ECT, you should have an additional 10% remission from timetable over and above PPA.
You should have a mentor meeting weekly.
You should have an induction programme.
As a pp says, you can't plan unless you know what you're planning for - contact your hod or mentor if you can.

I would contact your HOD to ask if there are any medium/long term plans you can see, so that you know what you’ll be teaching, and whether planning is done centrally - you might just need access to a drive and not have to plan loads yourself from scratch. HoD might not answer though as it’s summer. Are you able to pop in to school on GCSE results day? This the day at my school when there’s loads of people around and you might be able to get in to your room, speak to some people etc.

Is there a curriculum overview on the school website so that you can see what each year group covers in your subject, so you can get a little prepared.

Fear not - most things can be sorted on INSET day/first few days! Enjoy your summer and get plenty of rest!

I missed that you’re agency staff, sorry. When we know we have agency staff coming in in my dept, we tend to do a lot of the prep for them, as they’re not being paid for the summer! If you got the job on the last day of term, you’ll probably find they’re just really grateful to have you and lots will be prepared/sorted for you!

Are you primary or secondary? I'm assuming secondary. Which subject? I would just read up on the GCSE syllabi over the summer so that you're familiar with what your subject requires.