National Professional Development (NPD) - Excellence in Reception Teaching

Build deep expertise. Strengthen practice. Shape children’s futures.

High-quality Reception teaching matters. The experiences children have in Reception can shape their confidence, communication, relationships and learning for years to come. Yet teaching in Reception is complex. It requires deep understanding of child development, curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, inclusion, communication with families, and the ability to respond thoughtfully to every child in front of you. 
At LLSE, we believe Reception teachers deserve professional development that reflects that complexity. 

This programme has been carefully designed for teachers working in Reception classrooms in England who want to deepen their expertise, strengthen their professional confidence and develop highly effective practice grounded in the best available evidence. 

Whether you are new to Reception or an experienced practitioner looking to refine and extend your practice, this programme will help you develop the knowledge, judgement and professional understanding needed to lead exceptional early learning experiences for children.

About the Course

Using the latest early years evidence, relevant to the modern classroom, this course will help experienced teachers deepen their understanding of the key areas of child development and strengthen high-quality practice in reception teaching.

NPD courses are informed by the best available research and endorsed by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).

On successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded a DfE accredited National Professional Development certificate.

Who is this course for?

This programme is suitable for:

• Teachers who have completed their induction
• Experienced reception teachers
• Teachers moving into a reception role

Please note: this course is not suitable for teaching assistants.

Why this programme matters

Reception teaching is a critical point in early education and can have a significant impact on children’s long-term outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.

In the Every Child Achieving and Thriving schools white paper, the Department for Education committed to developing new training opportunities for teachers who are not yet in formal leadership roles. These National Professional Development (NPD) programmes have been designed to support classroom practitioners in developing deeper expertise in evidence-informed teaching.

This course will help participants deliver high-quality reception teaching by building the knowledge, tools and confidence needed to apply effective approaches in the classroom.

What will you learn?

The programme explores the key areas of expertise required for effective Reception practice, including: 

• understanding child development and how children learn  
• designing ambitious and developmentally appropriate curriculum experiences  
• communication and language development  
• supporting early literacy and mathematics  
• play, interaction and effective adult-child communication  
• observation, assessment and professional noticing  
• supporting children with SEND and additional needs  
• creating inclusive classroom environments  
• working effectively with families and carers  
• transition into and through Reception  
• building independence, self-regulation and positive learning behaviours  

The programme is grounded in evidence from respected national sources, including guidance from the Department for Education and the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). 

Participants will develop practical strategies to improve outcomes for children in reception, including how to:

• Expertly apply evidence-based approaches in the classroom
• Establish effective communication and language development strategies
• Identify and adapt to barriers to learning, including SEND
• Improve physical activity to support well-being and motor skill development
• Plan an appropriate curriculum and effective assessment approaches
• Support smooth transitions into and out of reception

The programme combines research-informed professional learning with practical application to support immediate impact in the classroom.

How is the course delivered?

We understand the pressures teachers face. 

That is why the programme has been carefully structured to provide meaningful professional development without unnecessary workload. 

The course combines: 

• self-directed online study  
• high-quality learning materials  
• structured reflection activities  
• live webinars and professional discussion  
• practical application to classroom practice.  

Learning is broken into manageable sections that can be completed flexibly around work and personal commitments. 

The course will:

• Take approximately two school terms to complete
• Require a minimum of 20 hours of study
• Include at least four sessions of live online training
  
  

What impact will the programme have

For you professionally 

Participants will: 

• deepen their understanding of effective Reception practice  
• strengthen professional confidence and decision-making  
• develop greater expertise in child development and curriculum thinking  
• refine classroom interaction and teaching approaches  
• become more reflective and evidence-informed practitioners  
• build networks with other Reception teachers nationally.  

 

For your classroom and children 

The programme is designed to support improvements in: 

• children’s communication and language  
• engagement and participation  
• inclusive practice  
• classroom culture and routines  
• curriculum coherence  
• early identification of need  
• quality of adult-child interaction  
• children’s confidence, independence and learning behaviours.  

 

For your school 

Schools benefit from teachers who can: 

• contribute to stronger EYFS practice across the setting  
• support evidence-informed curriculum development  
• share effective practice with colleagues  
• strengthen transition and inclusion approaches  
• contribute to long-term school improvement priorities.  

Funding

Funded places are available for participants working in most state-funded settings, including academies.

Examples of settings where funding is not available include:

• Schools outside England
• Independent schools

 The number of bursary funded places each year is strictly limited, so we encourage applications at an early stage. 

What if I am not eligible for funding or do not secure bursary funding?

If you are not eligible for funding, or do not secure bursary funding, self-funded places are available. Participants will still need to register through the DfE process.

Self funded places for UK participants are charged at £650.

International places are offered via our network of Delivery Partners, please contact them directly for pricing. 

Why choose LLSE?

LLSE is an Ofsted-rated Outstanding provider of professional development for teachers and school leaders, delivering programmes across England and internationally.

Our programmes are designed to:

• Inspire professional curiosity and reflective practice
• Enable teachers to apply evidence-informed approaches confidently
• Support sustainable improvements in classroom practice and pupil outcomes

Participants benefit from:

• Expert facilitation and support
• Flexible online learning
• Contextualised examples and case studies
• High-quality research-informed content
• Opportunities to collaborate with peers and practitioners

At LLSE, we believe professional development should empower educators to make a meaningful difference to children’s lives through evidence-informed practice, reflection and collaboration.

This programme has been designed to support reception teachers in creating environments where every child can achieve and thrive.

Register your interest

To find out more about upcoming cohorts, funding eligibility and programme delivery, contact the LLSE team or register your interest online by completing this form: Excellence in Reception Teaching EOI.

Email: enquiries@llse.org.uk
Telephone: 01795 685910

RCTReception Course Registration