Local Specialist Leaders

Bristol Early Years Teaching Hub (BEYTH) is responsible for the recruitment, designation, and deployment of outstanding Local Specialist Leaders (who have taken the place of previously DfE recognised Specialist Leaders in Education).

LSLs are experienced leaders and practitioners who have expertise in improving the quality of provision and standards in their area of specialism, in both primary Schools and all Early Years settings.

The work undertaken by an LSL is focused on building expertise, skill, and capacity. It includes:

  • Targeted and intensive support in school and settings
  • Development and delivery of professional learning and development (CPD)
  • Leading in Research
  • Partnership and Network development
  • Representation and leadership

Our LSLs have had a great impact on the quality of EYs provision in Bristol and beyond, as evidenced by feedback from those who have accessed the support and also external evaluation such as Ofsted and Quality Improvement Visits.

Our LSLs are supported in their leadership development by the Bristol Early Years Teaching Hub team. All are working in settings/schools, connected to current practice, and are learners themselves so will have faced similar challenges to you.

Meet our team of Local Specialist Leaders 

How to access support from our Local Specialist Leaders

If you are Bristol setting/school needing support, you should contact your Area Lead or Lead Teacher, who will submit a Request for Support in consultation with you. You will then be allocated an LSL, and offered an agreed number of fully funded sessions to work on your priorities, which will be closely monitored.

Request for Support

BEYTH – Request for Support (To be completed by Lead Teachers)

If you are not a Bristol setting/school, but are within the Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub region, then you can apply for bespoke support through the SPH Bespoke Support Form.

SPH Bespoke Support Form

What settings have said about the support they have received from the LSLs

Sometimes it’s not clear where you should start when there is so much to improve, the LSL support helped me to identify which changes would have the greatest impact on children and supported me into really effective action planning” – Leader of Private Nursery

“The training that the LSLs delivered was really inclusive and motivating, they have great expertise at working with wider teams and understanding how to engage everyone they work with” – Nursery Teacher

“The LSL support I had was invaluable – she completed an audit with me and unpicked the things that I had over complicated. She helped me to get great systems in place which will enable our setting to weather any storm” – Children’s Centre Leader

“The LSL modelled exemplary practice – her interactions and level of challenge with the children enabled my team to actually see how it should be done. The reflective conversations that followed produced many light bulb moments” – Private Nursery Leader

“The LSL has restored my self-confidence and passion for teaching again, I wouldn’t have survived the year without her support, let alone be ready for Ofsted! Our EYs provision did great – I credit that to the coaching and guidance I got from the LSL. I know what outstanding looks like now.” – Reception Teacher in a Primary School

“The knowledge the LSL has about working with babies and under 3s was fantastic– she got me to consider things that hadn’t even occurred to me, starting everything with the needs of the child and family” – Team Leader, Private Nursery

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