T-ITaP: Our research-backed Intensive Training and Practice solution
April 2025
For a limited time only, we’re offering a free trial of T-ITaP, our award-winning Intensive Training and Practice solution, to all UK ITT providers. In this blog post, we explore the current UK approach to ITaP, the benefits of customised content, and break down the T-ITaP solution.
Intensive Training and Practice (ITaP) is a core requisite of all initial teacher training (ITT) program in England. Over a minimum of 4-6 weeks, depending on the program, ITaP allows teacher trainees to consolidate their knowledge of the key evidence-based principles for effective teaching and practice their application in a secure environment. This could take the form of a mock lesson, observation and feedback, or a group task. By putting research into practice, trainees can gain a better understanding of a range of practical classroom situations, and focus on areas to improve before they begin their professional teaching practice.
Challenges
Despite the known benefits of ITaP, practical concerns can hinder the program’s application.
- Running ITaP courses can place extra responsibility on school staff, especially if they’re already overburdened.
- ITaP courses are intensive by nature, which might not be accessible to all teaching students.
- ITAP provision might not fully represent the diverse social and cultural aspects of different school contexts, and address the diverse learning needs of students.
- The effective delivery of ITaP requires time, resources, and effective communication with all involved; schools, school mentors, students and, ITT staff.
Our solution
Teacher Success Platform has pioneered leading research into hybrid and remote ITaP components, which can seamlessly integrate into existing teacher education programs and help scale it to a wider number of trainees. Our T-ITaP Intensive Training and Practice solution has been carefully designed and tested to fulfil ITaP requirements, offering level-specific digital simulations where students can practice a range of classroom scenarios, and receive instant, tailored feedback from expert teachers.
We currently offer 4 simulation topics: Behaviour Management, Adaptive Teaching, Professional Behaviours, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Each topic includes 3 or 4 online immersive modules, with a range of resources available on the management dashboard such as role-plays, micro-teaching activities, and much more.
T-ITaP is ideal for all accredited teacher education providers, including SCITTs, School Teaching Hubs, and universities. The software can be easily integrated into existing education programs.
Understanding T-ITaP with TSP’s Director of Partnerships
In this short video, our Director of Partnerships Liz Maxwell breaks down the T-ITaP program and gives you a glimpse of what the product looks like. Below, she also answers some additional questions you may have about the customisability of T-ITaP.
What are the benefits of a more tailored approach to Intensive Training and Practice?
“Providers can select content and design features that suit their program needs. Simulations can be used as an induction tool, where trainees work through the online modules at the very beginning of the ITAP program. They can also be embedded within the program or be used as an assessment tool for reporting/quality assurance purposes. “
How can providers customise T-ITaP content to suit the needs of their trainees?
“Providers can choose from a bank of video and text scenarios that focus on various teaching challenges. Scenarios can be combined into thematic modules, for example, behaviour management or adaptive teaching. All scenarios are phase-specific. Providers can also choose from various design options and and work alongside us to develop specific content of relevance to their organisation. We then develop animated scenarios to reflect the unique characteristics sought and develop a range of possible options with appropriate expert teacher feedback to create a learning experience strongly aligned to the behaviours and values of the client.
Our ITaP solutions can be structured in one of two ways:
The first option takes a more in depth look at each scenario. Trainees can be asked to consider a range of responses to a particular scenario and write a brief rationale for each explaining their thinking. After, they find out what experienced teachers would have done and most importantly why. This approach helps trainees understand there are multiple ways teachers can respond to the same scenario.
Alternatively, trainees can interact with a greater number of topic-specific scenarios and be asked to choose the best way to respond or explain how they would respond before receiving tailored feedback from experienced teachers on their decision-making.
Providers can also choose from a range of resources to supplement online engagement. Resources include role-plays, discussion prompts, case studies, peer micro-teaching and much more.”
What are some of the areas clients have sought tailored content for previously, and how have TSP addressed these needs?
“TSP has collaborated with many clients across the globe to create bespoke solutions that meet program needs,values, location and context. We work alongside local experts to create online solutions that reflect the unique characteristics of programs and organisations.
Some recent examples include developing scenarios to promote teaching in regional, rural and remote locations and creating admissions assessments with real-time feedback to candidates. We have also recently developed content for the Australian teacher training sector to support the development of teacher capability to hold a First Nations perspective.”
Free trial
If your institution is interested in a free trial of T-ITaP, or if you would like to find out more about how the solution could be customised to your unique context, please send us an email at info@teachersuccess.co.uk or fill out the form here.