Guidance

Reception improvement offer

Updated 17 March 2026

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reception-improvement-offer/reception-improvement-offer

Reception is a vital foundation year that sets children up for success throughout primary school and beyond.

We are making sure schools have access to the right tools and tailored improvement, including helping every parent to play their part and be confident in their child’s progress.

Good level of development

The good level of development (GLD) data tool is designed to help schools, trusts and local authorities better understand early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) outcomes and support evidence-based decision making.

It enables leaders to:

  • view their GLD outcomes in context
  • explore trends across pupil groups
  • consider how cohort context may influence outcomes
  • identify areas of strength and areas for improvement

The GLD data tool is available on the View your education data (VYED) platform. 

The updated GLD reports published in November include 2024 to 2025 early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) data for the first time.

Reception-focused webinars

Free reception-focused webinars available to support schools, trusts and local authority leads to increase the number of children who achieve a good level of development at the end of their first year in school.

The webinars have been developed by DfE and sector experts including:

  • Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
  • English Hubs
  • National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM)
  • Ofsted

Speech and language development through NELI

The Nuffield Early Learning Intervention (NELI) programme targets reception-aged children who need extra support with their speech and language development.

Children who take part in the NELI programme make 4 months of additional progress on average, in oral language skills. This increases to 7 months for children on free school meals.

The DfE-funded NELI programme is available to all state-funded schools with a reception class. 

English hubs

English Hubs offer a range of support to local schools, academies and free schools to improve the teaching of phonics, early language and reading for pleasure in reception and year 1. Offers include:

Early years stronger practice hubs

Early years stronger practice hubs provide advice, share good practice and offer evidence-based professional development for early years settings. Many hubs now include reception networks, with some offering funded places on professional development programmes for teachers.

Individual staff training 

We are raising skill levels across the workforce by funding high quality training programmes for educators and leaders. This includes continuing and extending free online child development training, making evidence based practice accessible to all staff.

EYFS profile assessment support

Support is available for teachers completing the early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) assessment.

Early years foundation stage profile assessment support has a focus on improving assessment reliability and building confidence. Support includes:

  • training materials
  • EYFS profile assessment support through sessions facilitated by local authorities

Reception networks

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. 

There are 5 reception networks in each region. The programme forms part of the RISE (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence) universal offer, ensuring that all schools know where to access reception-specific expertise when they need it. 

Schools wishing to get involved or access support should contact their local reception networks lead school directly.

National professional qualifications

Headship

We are enhancing the headship national professional qualification by:

  • adding more early years content
  • introducing a new training course for reception class teachers

Early years leadership

We are funding more places on the early years leadership national professional qualification from autumn 2026 so all leaders can apply.

This course supports participants to develop expertise in:

  • leading high-quality early years education and care
  • effective staff and organisational management

Early years child development training

The early years child development training is free online training aimed at building and strengthening the knowledge and understanding of early years educators in the key areas of child development.

The training includes 8 modules, each taking around 2 hours to complete, and offers practical advice for supporting children in reception and early years settings to thrive.

Maths hubs

Maths hubs offer a range of support to all state funded schools and colleges in England to improve the teaching of mathematics. The offers specific to reception are:

  • the foundation years website provides news, policy and resources for early years professionals

  • the EEF Early Years Toolkit summarises a wide range of approaches to improving teaching and learning in the early years

  • help for early years providers contains free resources for educators working with children aged 0 to 5 years

  • the establishing school-based nursery provision non-statutory guidance helps schools, governing bodies and childcare providers to establish nursery provision on school sites

  • Oak National Academy is a free online classroom and resource hub that provides teachers with free lessons and resources for pupils aged 4 to 16, including reception

  • The Kindred’s Starting Reception provides advice for parents, schools and early years professionals to support children starting reception.

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