Can newly qualified teachers take a break during their induction period?
Yes. They can take a break for as long as they like, but during that period they cannot take up a permanent post in a maintained school or non-maintained special school. This is because they must continue with their induction programme if they are in a school where the programme is available. Short-term supply teaching is permissible because it does not count as a period of employment towards the required induction period during a break (provided the 16 month period has not expired). They can also teach in a setting where induction is not compulsory, eg an independent school or a further education college. See paragraph 2.55 of the Statutory Guidance on Induction for Newly Qualified Teachers in England (ref: DCSF-00364-2008).
