In guidance published on 20 June, the Department for Education (DfE) is stepping up to help our youngest pupils get the best possible start in school. They’ve put together a range of support, both online and in person, specifically designed to help improve teaching and leadership in reception classes right across England. It’s all about making sure every child gets a brilliant foundation for their learning journey.
Helping the Whole School Thrive
A big part of what the DfE offers is support that benefits the entire school and all the little ones in reception:
- Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) Programme: We know how crucial early language development is, and this DfE-funded programme is for reception children who need that extra boost with their speech and language. The results are impressive: children on NELI typically make an extra four months of progress in oral language skills. And for those on free school meals, that jumps to a whopping seven months! It’s available to all state-funded schools with a reception class.
- English Hubs: These hubs are doing a great job helping schools get better at teaching phonics, early language, and encouraging a love of reading in reception and Year 1. They offer things like showcase events for phonics teaching, reading audits for eligible schools, and even funding to help schools buy and use DfE-validated systematic synthetic phonics programmes. Plus, schools can get up to 12 days of invaluable in-school support from a dedicated literacy specialist.
- Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs: Think of these as local centres of excellence. They share advice, spread good practice, and offer evidence-based training for early years settings. Many have even expanded to include reception networks, with some offering funded places on professional development programmes for teachers.
- Oak National Academy: This is a real lifesaver for teachers! It’s a free online classroom and resource hub packed with high-quality lessons and materials for children aged 4 to 16, from reception all the way up to Year 11.
- Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) Programme: This programme shows commitment from the DfE to making sure every child feels included. PINS brings together health and education experts, along with experienced parents, right into mainstream primary schools. They work to help schools identify and better support neurodivergent children, offer early interventions, and upskill school staff. It’s also about building stronger ties between schools and parents.
Boosting Individual Staff Skills
It’s not just about whole-school support; the DfE also provides targeted training to help individual early years educators grow:
- Early Years Child Development Training: This is a free online training course designed to boost early years educators’ knowledge of child development. It’s split into eight modules, each taking about two hours, and gives practical advice on helping children in early years settings and reception classes truly thrive.
- National Professional Qualification (NPQ) in Early Years Leadership: If you’re looking to step into a leadership role, or are already in one, this qualification helps you become an expert in leading high-quality early years education and care, as well as managing staff and the organisation effectively.
- Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Maths Early Years Programme: This is a fully-funded programme specifically designed to improve the maths subject knowledge and teaching skills for anyone working with early maths learners.
- Mastering Number Programme: Also fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme, this one focuses on building a really strong foundation in “number sense” for all children from reception up to Year 2.
- Maths Champions Programme: Another fully-funded online resource, this helps educators feel more confident and knowledgeable about supporting children’s early maths development. Research from the Education Endowment Fund shows that children in settings using this programme make up to three months’ additional progress in both maths and language!
Other Handy Resources
The DfE also points us towards some other great tools and information:
- The foundation years website is a brilliant go-to for news, policy updates, and resources for early years professionals.
- The EEF Early Years Toolkit gives a quick summary of lots of different ways to improve teaching and learning in the early years, all backed by research.
- help for early years providers offers loads of free resources for anyone working with children aged 0 to 5.
- And if schools are thinking about setting up their own nursery, the establishing school-based nursery provision guidance offers non-statutory advice to help them do just that.
It’s clear the DfE is putting a effort into making sure every child in England gets a high-quality early years education. It’s all about setting them up for success, right from the very start.
To read the full guidance publication, click here: Reception improvement offer – GOV.UK
