Specific actions taken by school-based mentors to induct student teachers successfully at the beginning of a school placement

Forster, Colin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5896-1491, Fry, Ian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1308-0702, Howell, Emma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8086-1879, Meredith, Alyson ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4712-3089 and Ramli, Adam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2132-680X (2026) Specific actions taken by school-based mentors to induct student teachers successfully at the beginning of a school placement. PRACTICE. pp. 1-14. doi:10.1080/25783858.2026.2702935 (In Press)

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Abstract

This article reports on innovative research undertaken to under-stand the specific actions taken by school-based mentors, during the first few days of a placement, that contribute to the student-teacher making a positive start to their school experience. Data were gathered via questionnaire from undergraduate and post-graduate primary student teachers and through a focus group with school-based mentors. Specific actions taken by school-based mentors during the early stages of a placement that were deemed to be valuable to the success of student teachers are summarised under four themes: planning carefully for the student teacher’s first day at the school, including planning when, who and how the student teachers would be welcomed to the school; providing easy access to all school resources, including online policies and planning documents; supporting the student teacher’s identity as a teacher, including through being provided with a school lanyards and fobs, to enable independent access around the school; supporting the student teacher’s wellbeing through a clear focus on professional learning, including through the use of early and focused feedback on teaching and learning. The research team concludes that school-based mentors have agency to ensure that each student teacher makes a positive start to each school placement.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Initial Teacher Education (ITE); Initial Teacher Training (ITT); School-based mentor; School experience; School placement; School placement induction
Subjects:	L Education > LC Special aspects of education
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education, Health and Sciences
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	17 Aug 2026 17:03
Last Modified:	21 Aug 2026 16:00
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16474

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