Excellence in Reception Teaching

Course Overview

The Excellence in Reception Teaching course is new for autumn 2026 and is part of the Department for Education’s ‘Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life’ strategy.

Our carefully sequenced curriculum is designed specifically for reception year teachers. You will deepen your early years pedagogical knowledge and strengthen your teaching practice using practical, research-based approaches.

> Length: Two terms.
> Delivery: Online and ‘little and often’ on-demand learning.
> Qualification: Sector-recognised certification.
> Curriculum: Evidence informed using the latest research.
> Cost: DfE funded for mainstream schools.

What you’ll learn

This programme follows the Department for Education’s National Professional Development (NPD): Excellence in Reception Teaching framework.

On this programme, you will learn how to:

Recognise children’s needs to create a high quality, responsive learning environment in reception.
Support children’s communication and language development by embedding high quality interactions and supporting social communication skills.
Support children’s personal, social and emotional development to equip them for success in education and later life.
Promote effective physical development approaches to support children’s learning.
Ensure curriculum planning, pedagogy and delivery are underpinned by effective assessment.
Plan and deliver effective play-based learning for all children.
Use effective pedagogy to support early literacy and mathematical development.
Ensure all children experience success and that their individual needs are met, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those who are learning English as an additional language (EAL).
Work in partnership with families, pre-school settings and other professionals to support a positive transition into and out of reception.

Note: programme content is subject to change.

How you’ll learn

Excellence in Reception Teaching is designed so you can engage in live online, facilitated sessions alongside self-guided modules you can complete at any time.

Over two terms, Excellence in Reception Teaching includes:

Over 20 hours of learning
8 hours of live online sessions
12.5 hours of self-study (average of 45 minutes per week)
30-minute diagnostic at the start of the programme
Four courses designed around the foundations of excellent reception teaching and the prime areas of child development from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The programme includes online facilitator-led sessions with your peer group.

The programme starts with a one-hour live online conference.

Note: programme content is subject to change.

Am I eligible?

The course is for experienced reception classroom teachers, or those who will be teaching reception year in a mainstream school.

This could be a primary, junior or all-through school.

This course is not suitable for active Early Career Teachers or teaching assistants.

Enquire now to register your interest in our autumn 2026 cohorts.

If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

How much does it cost?

The Excellence in Reception Teaching course is a DfE funded programme for teachers working in state-funded settings in England.

If you do not work in an eligible school, the Excellence in Reception Teaching costs £650 plus VAT.

Self-funded payment options
If you can’t access a DfE funded scholarship, you can pay for an Excellence in Reception Teaching place.

We will invoice the school/trust contact you provide in your registration directly. Depending on your school type, they may be able to reclaim VAT.

If you are unable to come to an arrangement with your school, we can invoice you directly, but you will not be able to reclaim VAT.

We do not offer payment plans for this programme.

The cost of your programme must be paid in full before the start of your programme. We can’t offer refunds once you start the programme.

Why should I train with Ambition?

Train on our Excellence in Reception Teaching course and you’ll be joining over 46,000 educators in England who have trained with us in the past year.

Evidence informed curriculum
Our carefully sequenced and evidence informed Excellence in Reception Teaching course is designed around the key problems you face in the classroom. You'll learn to implement practical early years strategies that relate to your school’s context.

Access early years expertise
Benefit from an evidence-informed course designed by sector experts including experienced reception teachers and those who designed the National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership.

Train to your timetable
Our ‘little and often’ approach means you can engage with our Excellence in Reception Teaching around your busy timetable, with minimal time needed out of school. On average, you’ll need just 45 minutes of study per week to engage with this course

High quality professional development
We know that access to high quality professional development is essential for early years educators. We have committed to this through our strategic priorities, and supporting the Early Years Stronger Practice Hub Programme as the newly appointed (2026) delivery partner.

Join our charitable mission
As an education charity and golden thread provider of the Initial Teacher Training Early Career Framework (ITTECF) and NPQs, your school will benefit from our mission to help educators serving children from disadvantaged backgrounds to keep getting better.

Benefits for you

Focused on child development
Benefit from a high quality curriculum that’s structured around how four- and five-year-old children develop, including communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, and physical development

Designed for reception teachers
This course is designed specifically for reception teachers. Through evidence-based professional development, you’ll learn the foundations of excellent reception teaching, including modules on early literacy and phonics, and mathematical development.

Become a reception year expert
You’ll be supported to build on your existing knowledge and become an expert in the children you teach. Over the two-term course, you’ll get regular, practical learning opportunities that result in tangible improvements in your teaching practice.

Create an inclusive learning environment
You’ll learn how to effectively identify and respond to barriers to learning, including for children with SEND, so you can deliver high-quality, inclusive teaching to ensure all reception year children experience success.

Close the gap
Evidence* shows that high quality care and education in early years is fundamental for a child’s development, preparing them for school and later life. We’ll help you to develop the knowledge to deliver this to the children you support.

Connect with your peers
You’ll train alongside other reception teachers from similar settings. You’ll have the opportunity to share your experiences, reflect on your learning and building a strong support network.

Learn at your pace
This programme is designed to fit around your busy teaching role. Much of the work can be completed in short bursts around your existing schedule.

Invest in your future
Ongoing professional development helps you to grow and thrive as an early years practitioner. You will follow an evidence-informed framework and gain a professional certification at the end of the programme.

*M Marmot, P Goldblatt, J Allen and others (2010) ‘Fair society, healthy lives: the Marmot Review’ Institute of Health Equity;.

*B Taggart, K Sylva, E Melhuish, P Sammons and I Siraj (2015) ‘Effective pre-school, primary and secondary education project (EPPSE 3–16+)’ Department for Education

Benefits for your school

Give young people the best start
Equipping your reception teachers with evidence-based training on what good early years teaching and care looks like will help to create a level playing field for children in the early stages of life.

Benefit from tailored reception training
This is the first DfE accredited course that is designed specifically for reception teachers. It will develop expertise that can be applied to identifying and addressing persistent and common challenges for those teaching reception year.

Invest in high-quality professional development
By investing in your reception teachers, you’ll be supporting them to provide high quality early years teaching, improve school readiness, close gaps earlier, and support more children to experience smooth transitions into and out of reception.

Tap into a network
Your reception teachers will train alongside peers from other primary settings, supported by expert early years facilitators who fully understand their needs.

How do I apply?

Applications are now open for our new Excellence in Reception Teaching course. You can apply here >>

To apply, you must be an experienced reception teacher or will be teaching reception year in a mainstream school.

This could be a primary, junior or all-through school.

This course is not suitable for active Early Career Teachers or Teaching Assistants.

If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

DfE registration: You must complete the DfE registration to confirm your place and your funding eligibility. You can now register here >>

Our application process in seven simple steps:
Step 1: On the programme page
Click ‘Apply now’.
Step 2: Set up your MyAmbition account
Create an account with your name, email address and password. Confirm your email to activate your account.
Step 3: Complete your application
Log in to MyAmbition, fill in your personal and professional details, and answer the application questions. Attach any required documents.
Step 4: Submit your application
Review your answers and click ‘Submit’.
Step 5: Application in review
We will review your application and contact you if more information is needed.
Step 6: Place offered
If your application is successful, we will send you an offer by email.
Step 7: Place accepted
Accept your offer on MyAmbition to secure your place.

If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

FAQs

Is this an NPQ?

No this is not a National Professional Qualification. It is a new course that is part of the Department for Education's new National Professional Development (NPD) and is aimed at improving reception teaching.