The Department for Education (DfE) has delivered a series of regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) webinars on reception quality, led by senior sector experts and national leaders. The webinars aim to support schools, trusts, and local authority leaders in improving reception practice to support every child to have the best start in life and increase the number of children who achieve a good level of development (GLD) at the end of their first year in school.
The series includes three sessions, each covering a different aspect of reception quality. The first session, 'Mastering the EYFS profile assessment', focuses on strengthening understanding of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) profile assessment and supporting consistent, confident judgements. The session is led by Amy Finch, Head of Reception Policy, and Emma Woodshaw, Head of Reception Assessment, Accountability, and Data at the DfE, and features contributions from school and sector experts.
Session two, 'What does great reception practice look like', explores how to prepare for high-quality reception pedagogy and practice for the start of the new academic year. The session is led by DfE experts, including Sue Robb, Best Start in Life Champion, and Sir Kevan Collins, Delivery Adviser and former reception teacher. They are joined by headteachers and reception teachers to share practical insights and strengthen early years provision.
The third session, 'Supporting smooth transitions into Reception', draws on the department's getting children ready for reception guidance, and shares practical examples of effective transition practice to help every child have the best possible start. The session is led by Heather Scott, Senior Strategy Advisor in the reception improvement team at DfE, and features contributions from school and early years educators.