Early Years Sector Support

The Starting Reception Toolkit

Free, ready-to-use assets and messaging to promote Starting Reception.

Making the most of Starting Reception

In this section, find information specifically for professionals working in early years settings, schools and local authorities. All content is free to use and publish. We ask that you do not change the definition and credit startingreception.co.uk.

Not sure what Starting Reception is? Read our FAQs.

Go to ‘Setting Expectations’ to understand why it’s important to set the expectations with parents and how to approach these conversations.

Use Starting Reception to set clear expectations with families

The Starting Reception definition sets out clear, consistent guidance about the skills children need to thrive from their very first day in Reception. By sharing this information with families in advance of their child starting school, we can help to set expectations and signpost additional support and advice.

Download ‘Setting Expectations’, for more guidance on why this is important and how to set expectations with families.

Download the Starting Reception Communications toolkit:

How to share Starting Reception with families

For nurseries, pre-schools, childminders and other early years settings:

Share Starting Reception with families on your website, in emails, newsletters and on social media. National offer day in April each year (the date on which families find out which school their child has been offered a place at) is a great opportunity to promote Starting Reception.
Display our Starting Reception poster (LINK) in your setting or create your own using our ready-made QR code.
Print the definition (you can even add your own logo LINK) and hand out copies to families during transition meetings and/or when children first join the pre-school room.
Watch the 60-minute webinar and discover top tips to help strengthen your school readiness.

For schools:

Link to Starting Reception on your school website (e.g. on your admissions page).
Include a link to Starting Reception in email communications to new families and on your social media channels.
Print the definition (you can even add your own logo LINK) and hand out copies to families on open days, during welcome evenings, transition visits etc...
Display our Starting Reception poster (LINK) in your school or create your own using our ready-made QR code.
Discuss Starting Reception with feeder nurseries to align expectations and to increase awareness of any families who may be at risk and need extra support.
Watch the 60-minute webinar and discover top tips to help strengthen your school readiness.

For local authorities:

Share Starting Reception with colleagues – health, education, social care, libraries...everyone has a role to play in helping to set clear expectations to families.
Share Starting Reception with schools and early years settings by email and in meetings.
Include a link to Starting Reception on the admissions pages of your website and in admissions emails.
Print the definition (you can even add your own logo LINK) and make copies available through schools, early years settings, family hubs, GPs and health visiting teams.
Promote Starting Reception on your social media channels.
Watch the 60-minute webinar and discover top tips to help strengthen your school readiness.

Free assets to make life a little easier!

Setting expectations: Why it matters and how to do it

Helpful guidance to equip practitioners with information on why school readiness is important and to support with challenging conversations with parents.

Examples of practice

Find out more about how local authorities, schools and rusts are using the Starting Reception definition.