Excellence in reception teaching course: register your interest
Guidance on the national professional development (NPD) course and how you can receive registration updates.
Applies to England
Background
This national professional development (NPD) course is for experienced reception teachers.
It uses the latest early years research and evidence to support teaching in today鈥檚 classrooms. You will develop your practice and strengthen your understanding of key areas of child development.
This course supports the government鈥檚 commitment to create:
- new training for teachers, set out in the Every child achieving and thriving white paper
- new courses for reception class teachers, described in the Giving every child the best start in life strategy
Timeline
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| June 2026 | register your interest in the course |
| July 2026 | course registration opens |
| October 2026 | 听first course start date |
There鈥齱ill be听2 further cohorts in 2027, starting in听January and听October.
To听receive听an听email听notification听when听course听registration opens,听you can听register your interest.
Who this course is for
The excellence in听reception听teaching NPD 肠辞耻谤蝉别听颈蝉听蹿辞谤:听听
- teachers who have completed their induction
- experienced reception teachers听
- teachers moving into a reception role
The course is not designed for teaching assistants.
What you will learn
You will learn practical strategies to improve children鈥檚 outcomes, including how to:听
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expertly apply evidence based approaches in the classroom听听
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support children鈥檚 learning through clear communication and language
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identify and respond to barriers to learning, including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
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promote physical activity to support wellbeing and motor skills
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plan听an appropriate curriculum听and assessments听听
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support smooth transitions for children into and out of reception听
You can听read the full content framework.听Providers use this framework to design their course.
笔谤辞惫颈诲别谤蝉听
You can choose from one of the following Department for Education (DfE) approved providers:听
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听听
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听
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听
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听
How the course will be delivered听听
The course is designed to fit around teaching commitments.听
The听course will:听听
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take around 2 school terms to complete听
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combine online learning and self study (minimum 20 hours)听
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include at least 4 hours of live online training听听
Your chosen training provider can give you full delivery details.
What you will be awarded
NPD courses are informed by the best available research and endorsed by the .听
On successful completion of the course, participants will be awarded a DfE accredited NPD certificate.
Funding eligibility听听
Funded places are available for participants working in听most state funded settings, including academies.听
Examples of settings where听funding is听not available include:听
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schools听outside England听
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independent schools听
If you are not eligible for funding, you can self fund. You must still register with the DfE.
How to register your interest in this course听
Enter your email using the 听to get an email notification when registration opens in July 2026.听听