Prioritising wellbeing: How the NIoT wellbeing tool supports early career teachers
At the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT), we are committed to putting teachers' time and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. Early career teachers (ECTs) and their mentors are dedicating themselves to what matters most – working with children in schools. Our role is to ensure that our support fits seamlessly into this space, enhancing professional development without adding unnecessary burden.
We recognise that teacher wellbeing directly impacts retention, and as an organisation dedicated to supporting and nurturing early career teachers, we are determined to play a positive role in helping teachers sustain long and fulfilling careers. Our approach is backed by evidence, drawing on validated measures such as the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS)* and the Perceived Occupational Stress (POS) scale** to gain valuable insights into the experiences of our ECTs.
This initiative is a shared effort between our ECT faculty and research teams, ensuring that our approach is both practical and research-led, aligning with the latest evidence on teacher wellbeing and workload management.
How we support ECT wellbeing
Wellbeing isn’t just a consideration—it’s embedded into the fabric of our Early Career Teacher (ECT) programme. Our approach involves a multi-faceted support system that combines regular wellbeing check-ins with the critical mentor-ECT relationship. Mentors are pivotal in helping ECTs develop sustainable working habits and strike a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.
A key aspect of this support is our wellbeing pulse survey, designed to be quick and easy to complete, providing a holistic picture of how ECTs are feeling at different points in the year. The results enable us to make informed adaptations to our programme structure, delivery schedules, communications, and support mechanisms, ensuring we are responsive to the needs of our participants.
Embedding wellbeing into the ECT programme
Our wellbeing support is integrated into the programme in several key ways:
- Frequent wellbeing surveys: ECTs are invited to complete our quick wellbeing pulse survey at regular intervals, using validated research tools such as SWEMWBS and POS to assess their perceptions of workload and wellbeing.
- Mentor-ECT relationships: Mentors receive training and guidance on fostering sustainable working habits and responding to wellbeing concerns with evidence-informed strategies.
- Responsive programme design: Drawing on thousands of data points collected over time, we continuously refine our curriculum and delivery to ensure it aligns with the evolving needs of ECTs.
The NIoT Wellbeing Tool: What it is and why it matters
NIoT’s online wellbeing tool is an invaluable resource for ECTs to track their wellbeing throughout their programme. ECTs log in and respond to a set of carefully designed questions that measure factors such as optimism, stress, relaxation, and their ability to manage challenges.
This tool is beneficial not only for ECTs but also for mentors and programme leaders, providing a broader, anonymised view of wellbeing trends across the cohort. This data helps us to target support, adapt communications, and ensure our programme remains fit for purpose at every stage of the academic year.
Key benefits of the wellbeing tool:
- Personal reflection: ECTs can access and review their past responses, allowing them to monitor trends and take proactive steps to manage their wellbeing.
- Evidence-based insights: The tool is built on robust research measures, ensuring reliability and accuracy in assessing ECT wellbeing.
- Informed programme development: Our data-driven approach helps shape programme improvements, allowing us to provide support when and where it’s needed most.
What our ECTs are saying
Feedback from ECTs who have used the wellbeing tool has been overwhelmingly positive. Many appreciate the opportunity to regularly reflect on their experiences and identify patterns in their stress and wellbeing levels. By tracking their responses, they feel more empowered to seek support when needed and develop sustainable ways of working.
The insights gathered from the tool also contribute to broader research efforts, helping us build a deeper understanding of the pressures faced by early career teachers and informing sector-wide discussions on teacher retention and wellbeing.
Find out more about our ECT programme
We are thrilled to announce that the National Institute of Teaching has been confirmed by the Department for Education (DfE) as one of the lead training providers for the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE), launching from September 2025. This programme builds on the success of the current Early Career Framework (ECF), maintaining its evidence-based foundation while introducing increased subject-specificity and flexibility for ECTs, mentors, and schools.
NIoT currently supports 8,000 participants through our regional campuses and associate colleges across England, achieving a successful outcome from Ofsted and over 95% satisfaction rates from our ECTs and mentors.
We are committed to nurturing the aspirations and confidence of new teachers, enabling them to thrive in their careers and continue making a difference in the classroom.
📢 To find out more about our ECT programme or to register your school’s interest in working with us, click here.