ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines roles and responsibilities of mentors when working with a beginning teacher. The key roles of a mentor are being an 'excellent' role model to a beginning teacher; observing a beginning teacher and giving feedback in a variety of contexts; providing regular meetings with a beginning teacher and other associated personnel; and co-planning and co-teaching with a beginning teacher to ensure a collaborative approach to personal and professional development. The key roles also include supporting a beginning teacher to develop their content and pedagogic knowledge, including behaviour for learning strategies and motivating pupils, and so on; and supporting a beginning teacher's understanding of safeguarding and child protection issues. The main responsibilities of a mentor include building positive relationships between the mentor and a beginning teacher, including effective communication channels; reflecting on practice, which includes own practice as a teacher and mentor as well as reflecting on the practice of a beginning teacher; and promoting the school's culture, ethos and values.
