July 06th 2026- Home
- CPD & DfE News
- NPD: Excellence in Reception Teaching
Excellence in Reception Teaching
We are pleased to announce that registration for the new Excellence in reception teaching course, an expansion of the “golden thread of CPD” is open.
Excellence in Reception Teaching is a new DfE funded professional development programme specifically for Reception Teachers who want to strengthen classroom practice, deepen their understanding of child development and improve outcomes for children at a vital stage in their education.
Short, focused and practical, the programme consists of 20 hours of learning over two school terms, combining flexible self-study with live facilitated sessions that fit around school life.
You will need to apply both on the DfE portal AND a leader provider (in our case Best Practice Network)

Funded places are available for participants working in most state funded settings, including academies.
If you are not eligible for funding, you can self fund, but you must still register with the DfE as well as with a lead provider.
Timeline
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| June 2026 | register your interest in the course |
| 6 July 2026 | course registration opens |
| October 2026 | first course start date |
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/excellence-in-reception-teaching-course-register-your-interest
Documents
| Page Downloads |
|---|
| Excellence in Reception Teaching Content... |




