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Excellence in Reception Teaching

The new Excellence in Reception Teaching course forms part of the DfE's wider, evidence-based 'golden thread' of teacher CPD. This funded national professional development (NPD) course is for current reception teachers or teachers looking to move into reception. 

The programme will run for two terms from October 2026 to February 2027. There will be two further cohorts in 2027, starting in January and October.

Register now via the DfE application portal

Registration for the Excellence in Reception Teaching course opened on 6 July. Places are limited – early applications are encouraged.

👉 Register via the DfE application portal: https://teacher-training-entitlement.education.gov.uk/

For more information about this course, see the links below: 

The Excellence in Reception Teaching course is part of the DfE's Best Start in Life CPD offer for Early Years educators.

Excellence in Reception Teaching course with the National Institute of Teaching

The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) is an approved provider for the new DfE Excellence in Reception Teaching course. For details of the NIoT Excellence in Reception Teaching course, see the flyer here.

How to apply for the NIoT Excellence in Reception Teaching course:

  • The DfE is managing all expressions of interest and applications for this course centrally, so applications are not via the NIoT website. 
  • To apply for the NIoT programme, apply via the DfE application portal and choose NIoT as your chosen provider.
  • This programme is delivered nationally; places are limited and will be awarded on a first come first served basis. We encourage colleagues to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.  

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