ABSTRACT Research shows the importance of leadership for quality development in settings of Early Childhood Education [ECE] (Anders and Oppermann 2024). This study investigated how headteachers of ECE settings in Germany pursue the goal of team development as a prerequisite for quality development and use external expertise for this purpose. Twenty-two heads who took part in the federal initiative ‘core day-care centres: language and instruction’ (Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, 2011–2015) were interviewed in this qualitative study. Findings suggest that team development is something that headteachers generally leave to external professionals and need support in developing their self-image as leaders.