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’s classrooms. You will develop your practice and strengthen your understanding of key areas of child development.
This course supports the government’s 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 | first course start date |
There will be 2 further cohorts in 2027, starting in January and October.
To receive an email notification when course registration opens, you can register your interest.
Who this course is for
The excellence in reception teaching NPD course is for:
- teachers who have completed their induction
- experienced reception teachers
- 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’s outcomes, including how to:
-
expertly apply evidence based approaches in the classroom
-
support children’s learning through clear communication and language
-
identify and respond to barriers to learning, including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
-
promote physical activity to support wellbeing and motor skills
-
plan an appropriate curriculum and assessments
-
support smooth transitions for children into and out of reception
You can read the full content framework. Providers use this framework to design their course.
Providers
You can choose from one of the following Department for Education (DfE) approved providers:
How the course will be delivered
The course is designed to fit around teaching commitments.
The course will:
-
take around 2 school terms to complete
-
combine online learning and self study (minimum 20 hours)
-
include at least 4 hours of live online training
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 Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).
On successful completion of the course, participants will be awarded a DfE accredited NPD certificate.
Funding eligibility
Funded places are available for participants working in most state funded settings, including academies.
Examples of settings where funding is not available include:
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schools outside England
-
independent schools
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
Enter your email using the Register interest in NPD course form to get an email notification when registration opens in July 2026.