SLEs provide outreach support for classroom teachers or middle leaders in other schools to help them develop their classroom practice.

SLEs are strong classroom practitioners with a particular area of expertise such as a subject area, early years, behaviour or school business management, and a track record of bringing about improvement. They understand what outstanding leadership practice in their area of specialism looks like and can help colleagues to achieve it in their own context. As practicing teachers themselves they bring experience and expertise to provide tailored solutions to individual situations and draw on well-developed interpersonal and communication skills to work sensitively and collaboratively with others. Examples of SLE deployment include one-to-one peer coaching or facilitated group support, data analysis, coaching, professional development training or joint action planning.

SLEs are based in a range of schools or academies, including nursery, primary, secondary, special, pupil referral unit, independent or free school, or sixth form college. Whilst the individual must be an outstanding practitioner, their school does not have to have an Ofsted outstanding judgement. All SLEs are required to go through a rigorous ESLCN selection process. As part of any deployment the impact of their work is evaluated in line with our quality assurance processes. To ensure our SLEs are current and aware of recent approaches and developments, the ESLCN provides ongoing training and support.

Links to:
• Benefits of becoming an SLE (potentially include this section on this page)
• Meet the SLEs/search
• What is School to School support (if not already connected on same page)