13/04/2026
I sometimes get asked: What’s the difference between coaching and reflective supervision and which do I or my team need?
In simple terms:
▪️Coaching is usually goal-focused and performance-driven. It helps staff to improve specific skills, achieve targets, and move forward with clear action steps. Think: “What can I do differently tomorrow?”
▪️Reflective supervision, on the other hand, goes deeper. It creates a collaborative, non-judgemental space to pause, think, and explore the emotional impact of the work. It’s not just about what we do, but how the work affects us and why we respond the way we do. Think: “What’s happening beneath the surface?”
In schools, both matter.
But in challenging environments, where staff are holding complex pupil needs, safeguarding concerns, and their own well being, reflection shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s essential.
When leaders invest in reflective supervision, they’re not just supporting staff; they’re strengthening resilience, decision making and relationships, and ultimately creating better outcomes for children.
The question isn’t whether you should choose coaching or reflective supervision.
It’s are we making space for both?