Our support to you
We work with GP practices and Primary Care Networks to ensure learning environments are safe, supportive and high quality for everyone undertaking education or training. Learning Environment Approval (LEA) provides assurance that placements meet agreed standards around supervision, governance, patient safety and learning culture.
This approach ensures that all placement environments prioritise learning, provide appropriate support, and contribute meaningfully to high‑quality training across primary care.
Our role is to support a positive learning experience by making sure education standards are clear, proportionate and focused on continuous improvement. We work alongside placement providers to promote good supervision, access to learning opportunities and a culture that values education.
LEA : Application Process
From readiness to ongoing assurance a simple overview of the LEA process
Yearly updates and maintaining LEA approval
Learning Environment Approval is maintained through simple yearly updates rather than a full re application. This approach supports continuous assurance that learning environments remain safe, effective and supportive, while keeping the administrative burden for PCNs and practices proportionate and manageable.
Each year, PCNs with LEA approval complete a short self-declaration to confirm that agreed standards continue to be met and to highlight any significant changes or emerging risks. The self-declaration focuses on key areas such as staffing and supervision arrangements, premises and learning space, governance and safeguarding processes and confirmation that appropriate learner support remains in place. For PCN scale approvals, submissions are completed at PCN level, with practices contributing information where needed.
Annual updates are reviewed alongside existing quality intelligence, including MDAT outcomes, QRRP activity where applicable, learner feedback from HEIs and other relevant assurance information. Where no concerns are identified, LEA approval continues automatically. If changes or risks are identified, proportionate actions and timescales are agreed, with ongoing support to help learning environments strengthen and improve over time
Application Resources
Quality assurance confidence
LEA provides confidence that education governance, supervision and learning culture meet agreed standards and support safe high quality training delivery.
Continuous improvement framework
LEA supports reflection and improvement over time, using quality intelligence to strengthen learning environments rather than relying on one off assessments.
Reduced administration burden
LEA brings together existing assurance activity, reducing repeated requests for evidence and streamlining processes at both PCN and practice level.
Workforce attraction retention
High quality approved learning environments increase confidence for learners and educators, supporting recruitment, retention and long term workforce sustainability.
Who do I contact?
Lucinda Godfrey
LEA Lead