Best Start in Life
The Department for Education is increasing the amount of training that early years educators, including reception teachers, can access. This includes online training in Early years child development, Excellence in reception teaching, which is a new, funded development course for reception teachers, and more places for aspiring leaders on the National professional qualification in early years leadership. Click on each programme to find out more, including details on how to apply.
Early years child development training
Build and strengthen your child development knowledge with the free Early years child development training from the Department for Education. Designed for childminders, nursery practitioners, reception staff, and anyone new to early years or who just wants to refresh their knowledge, this flexible online programme features 8 modules covering key topics such as brain development, communication and language, and supporting individual differences and needs. Learn at your own pace with engaging videos from real settings, practical strategies you can apply immediately, and opportunities to reflect on your practice. Each module takes around two hours and includes a downloadable certificate. Start anytime and build your knowledge today: Early years child development training.
Excellence in reception teaching
We know it can be hard to find high-quality CPD that meets the unique needs of educators/practitioners in reception. That’s why the Department for Education is launching a brand new, funded, development course for reception teachers from Autumn 2026. Designed by early years professionals, for early years professionals, the Excellence in reception teaching national professional development course will give participants the tools they need to strengthen their reception practice through practical, evidence-based approaches. Courses start in Autumn 2026, with registrations now open. To find out more information, or register for your place, click here.
Other DfE CPD opportunities aimed at early years and reception year educators:
- Early years stronger practice hubs provide advice, share good practice and offer evidence-based professional development for early years settings.
- The Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme The Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme targets reception-aged children who need extra support with their speech and language development.
- English Hubs and Maths Hubs offer a range of support to schools to support the teaching of English and Mathematics.
- The reception networks programme is a national initiative to improve the quality of reception year provision and support more children to start school ready to learn.
- Visit the department’s Reception improvement offer for information on the wider support and professional development offer for improving teaching and leadership of reception.
- The Education Endowment Foundation’s Early Years Toolkit provides a summary of evidence on key areas for learning and development in early years.
- The Early years level 3 SENCO is intended to support early years practitioners to gain accreditation for the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to perform the Early Years SENCO role effectively.
- National Day Nurseries Association’s Maths Champions – Bespoke Early Years Maths Training programme delivers high-quality professional development to early years educators to support improvements to early maths provision. Places are available to school-based nurseries, academy nurseries, nursery schools and PVI settings.
