The Embedded Practice Programme
Professional development works best when it is personalised, practical and sustained over time. Drawing on Education Endowment Foundation guidance and implementation research, I help schools move beyond one-off training by providing tailored feedback, focused coaching and regular follow-up that leads to lasting improvements in classroom practice.
I work alongside leaders to build coaching and professional development expertise from within while also providing additional leadership capacity through instructional coaching, live coaching and deliberate practice. Through strong professional relationships, practical modelling and evidence-informed approaches, I help staff at all stages of their careers make meaningful improvements that benefit both pupils and schools.
The coaching models below can all be adapted to suit different schools needs i.e how many days and how long for.
Rapid Improvement Short Term Intensive Support
Duration: 5 - 10 weeks
Capacity: 1 - 2 days a week
Staff: Up to 5 staff (teachers, HLTAs, leaders) in a 1 form entry primary school or a certain phase of a larger school (i.e. KS1)
Outcome: You have consistency across classrooms and confident staff who won’t crumble when Ofsted observe them
Includes:
Planning communication with headteacher on what initiatives to focus on, which staff may need more time
Weekly low-stakes observations
Live coaching and modelling where I demonstrate teaching and stay with them until they master it
Weekly 1:1 instructional coaching sessions with deliberate practice
Immediate actionable next steps for staff
Written feedback trackers for each member of staff
For phase / subject leaders, responsive coaching tailored to their leadership development
• Coaching for Ofsted conversations
£550 a day
Short Term Intensive works best when I can observe, co-teach and work in classrooms with staff in the mornings and then meet with them 1:1 in the afternoon for 20mins
“It turns out that helping teachers to change is difficult, Looking into the research, we can see that professional development commonly fails to alter what teachers do in the classroom”
Medium-Term Sustainable Improvement Partnership
Duration: 2 terms (20 weeks)
Capacity: 1 day per week
Staff: Up to 10 staff
Outcome: your staff feel comfortable with feedback and being observed, know what they need to improve and are making sustained improvements every week. You have implemented a coaching CPD strategy in your school led by your phase / senior leaders who are now expert coaches. Your teachers and leaders are becoming the internal experts and support each other
Includes:
Planning communication and update reviews with headteacher
Regular observation and coaching cycles initially with me, then by your leaders
Fortnightly coaching sessions initially with me, then by your leaders
Written feedback for each member of staff
Coach-the-coach leadership development
Support and modelling for leaders delivering coaching
Feedback on coaching and delivery quality
Subject Leadership Development training and coaching
• Gradual release towards internal ownership
£10,000 project
Sustainable improvement works best when your intended coaches can work alongside me for at least part of the morning doing joint observations and live modelling. After this, we will work together to coach staff for 20 mins each as I gradually remove my support towards observing coaching sessions and giving feedback to your coaches.
£10,000
Trust Wide Sustainable Improvement Partnership
Duration: 1 term (10 weeks)
Capacity: 2 days per week
Schools: 2 academies with up to 10 staff each
Outcome: (dependent on trust requirements) schools expecting Ofsted have had a boost of confidence and feel ready; trust and school leaders have gained consistency in teaching and learning; leaders have had support to implement a coaching strategy in their schools
Includes:
Planning communication with heads and trust leaders on current initiatives and strategies
Update reviews on progress
Weekly low stakes observations with live coaching and modelling for each teacher
Written feedback for each member of staff
Fortnightly coaching sessions for staff at any stage of their development
Support, modelling and feedback for leaders delivering coaching
£10,000 project
Trust level work is more flexible so duration and number of staff and schools is dependent on current need and can be over short, medium or longer term projects. Pricing is also flexible to reflect different length of contracts
All of the Embedded Coaching Programmes are designed to work well with the Inclusive Teaching Series - a series of training sessions on how teachers can support all learners to learn in a mainstream setting.
EEF Professional Development
Summary of Recommendations
Every teacher is at a different stage in their development journey. Through regular one-to-one coaching, I provide bespoke support tailored to each teacher’s individual needs and experience. Rather than overwhelming teachers with multiple targets, I identify the highest-leverage next step and focus on developing one technique at a time. This allows teachers to secure improvements, build confidence, and make sustained progress before moving on to the next area of development.
— Managing cognitive load
— Revisiting prior learning
Build Knowledge
Motivate Staff
— Setting and agreeing on goals
— Presenting information from a credible source
— Providing affirmation and reinforcement after progress
Effective professional development is built on trust, collaboration, and shared goals. Teachers and I agree clear, achievable next steps and review progress regularly. To bring new techniques to life, I use a combination of modelling, video exemplification, and observation of successful practitioners within your school. Coaching conversations deliberately recognise strengths and celebrate progress, helping teachers maintain motivation while reinforcing effective practice.
— Instruction
— Social support
— Modelling
— Monitoring and feedback
— Rehearsal
Develop Teaching Techniques
Knowing what to do is different from knowing how to do it. My consultancy focuses on helping teachers translate knowledge into classroom practice through explicit instruction, modelling, deliberate practice, and coaching. Drawing on Teach Like a Champion and your school’s chosen teaching and learning approaches, I demonstrate techniques in real classrooms, provide opportunities for rehearsal, and offer precise feedback that helps teachers refine their practice over time.
Embed Practice
— Providing prompts and cues
— Prompting action planning
— Encouraging monitoring
— Prompting context specific repetition
Lasting improvement happens when new habits become part of everyday teaching. Through regular low-stakes observations, live coaching, and structured coaching conversations, teachers receive timely prompts and feedback that support implementation in the classroom. Each coaching session includes clear action planning, ensuring teachers know exactly when and how they will apply new techniques. Weekly written feedback, shared with leaders where appropriate, creates a consistent support network that reinforces expectations and helps sustain improvement over time.
“Having worked with Lucy both during my time as an Early Career Teacher and beyond, I can confidently say that her impact on my professional growth has been profound. Lucy has a remarkable ability to quickly build trust, establishing a safe and supportive space where development can truly happen. She excels at identifying areas for growth and implementing rapid, meaningful improvements all while fostering a culture where feedback is genuinely a gift.”
Seyram Dzokoto, Teacher, Northern Learning Trust
Ready to Get Started?
Send me a quick note below and let’s tackle your next milestone together.