Excellence in Reception Teaching

Part of the DfE’s Best Start in Life Strategy and the NSE suite of programmes (DfE Lead Provider of NPQ and NPD programmes).

    • Experienced reception teachers who have completed their ECT years.

    • Teachers who know they will be teaching reception in the future.

    • Teachers working in mixed age classes e.g. nursery reception, reception/Year 1 and reception/Year 1/2 for whom there is a dedicated course available.

    • Teachers working in maintained schools’ academies, free schools, faith schools and schools without religious affiliation.

  • This is a 20 week online course delivered through 4 modules each lasting approximately half a term and during which the following areas will be covered:

    1. Child Development

    2. Classroom Practice

    3. Inclusive Practice

    4. Effective Partnerships

    Note: a strong focus on inclusion and SEND runs through each module.

  • This is an online course.

    • A webinar for each of the four modules following on from preparatory work consisting of reading / reflection on a blog / video or podcast.

    • A period of online self-study.

    • Engagement in a Community of Practice small group coaching session for each of the four modules. These coaching sessions will be facilitated by an expert in the field.

    • The shared learning will result in a commitment to apply a specific and relevant aspect of knowledge in each participants’ own setting.

  • This is the first of the DfE’s National Professional Development (NPD) Programmes and unlike the suite of NPQs is not assessed. However, to gain the NPD and be able to log it on your teacher record, specific attendance and engagement criteria are applied.

  • Some funding was made available by the DfE for the first cohort starting in autumn 2026. We await news on funding for subsequent cohorts.

    Should schools choose to self-fund, the cost of the programme is £650 per person.

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