English language support for virtual schools and local authorities

The challenge

Virtual schools and local authorities are operating under growing pressure. Demand for ESOL provision is rising, funding is stretched, and learner needs are becoming more complex. At the same time, the administrative burden of assessing, tracking and reporting on learner progress continues to grow.

Many newly arrived learners, including those from refugee and resettlement programmes, arrive with limited or no English. Without the right support, they struggle to integrate into schools, workplaces and communities, with lasting consequences for their wellbeing, confidence and a chance at life.

The challenges you face are real and can have negative consequences:

• Growing demand for ESOL provision with limited capacity to meet it
• Resource and budget constraints making scalable delivery difficult
• Heavy administrative burden around assessment, tracking and reporting
• Pressure to demonstrate measurable outcomes for funding and compliance
• Supporting learners from diverse language backgrounds and varying starting points
• Difficulty providing consistent, accessible provision for learners in transition

The solution

There are many tools that claim to support English language learning. Leap is different, and the difference is impactful.

• Built specifically for ESOL learners, not adapted from generic English tools
• Combines assessment, learning and reporting in a single platform
• Supports learners across 35 home languages for truly inclusive provision
• Accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop so learners can engage wherever they are
• Designed around real-world integration, employability and community participation
• Flexible enough to scale across councils, virtual schools and partner organisations

How Leap compares

Buyers often compare Leap with traditional ESOL provision, manual assessment processes, translation apps and generic learning platforms. Here is how Leap stands apart.

How it works

Leap provides a seamless end-to-end experience that removes complexity for your team and delivers meaningful support for your learners.

Step 1: Enrol Learners Quickly

A simple digital onboarding process gets learners set up without paperwork or delays. Leap supports multiple home languages from the start, making it accessible from day one.

Step 2: Assess Proficiency Accurately

Adaptive assessments measure ability across reading, writing, speaking and listening. Results give you an accurate picture of where every learner is starting from, enabling better placement decisions and targeted support.

Step 3: Deliver Personalised Learning

Leap delivers learning content that adapts to each learner’s level, language background and goals. For newly arrived learners, content is focused on practical, everyday English that supports integration into school, the community and the world of work.

Step 4: Support Integration and Confidence

Beyond language skills, Leap helps learners build the confidence to communicate, participate and belong. Content covers the language of everyday life, education, employment and community settings, giving learners the tools they need to feel at home.

Step 5: Track Progress and Demonstrate Impact

Real-time reporting gives your team visibility of learner engagement, progress and outcomes. Data is presented clearly, making it straightforward to evidence impact for funding bodies, inspections and strategic reporting.

Why it matters for virtual schools

For virtual schools working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, children in care and newly arrived learners, the stakes are high. These are young people navigating extraordinary circumstances. Leap provides a consistent, accessible and compassionate learning environment that fits around their lives, builds their confidence and gives them a real foundation for the future.

Used by over 20 virtual schools across the UK, Leap is already helping the most vulnerable learners make meaningful progress.

Speak to an ESOL advisor

Start building a more effective ESOL programme. Speak to our team to explore your ESOL pilot today.