Reception School Network

Supporting high-quality Reception practice through collaboration, evidence and shared learning

Welcome to the Ryders Hayes Reception Network.

Ryders Hayes Academy has been appointed as a Lead School for the Department for Education’s Reception Networks programme. Through the network, we will work alongside schools to strengthen Reception provision, share effective practice and support improved outcomes for children during this important stage of their education.

Our Reception Network will provide schools with opportunities to collaborate, reflect on their current provision and access practical, evidence-informed support. This will include virtual network meetings, in-person visits, open days, shared resources and opportunities to learn from colleagues across the network.

The network is designed to be supportive, collaborative and grounded in the realities of Reception classrooms. Schools will be encouraged to celebrate what is already working well, identify areas for development and consider practical approaches that can be adapted to suit their own context.

Upcoming Networks & Events

Resources

Introduction Presentation Slides

About Ryders Hayes School

Ryders Hayes School is a primary school located in Pelsall, Walsall, and is part of Primary Learning Trust.

Our vision is to provide every child with the foundations they need to become a confident, successful and lifelong learner. We believe that high-quality early education plays a vital role in supporting children’s development, wellbeing and future achievement.

Our approach is built around strong relationships, ambitious expectations, inclusive practice and an understanding of how young children learn. We recognise the importance of carefully planned provision, meaningful interactions, effective assessment and strong partnerships with families.

As a Reception Network Lead School, we will share our experience while also creating opportunities for schools to learn from one another. The network is not about promoting one particular model of Reception practice. Instead, it will support schools to explore evidence-informed approaches, reflect on their own context and identify realistic improvements that can make a difference for children.

Our school context

Ryders Hayes Academy serves children and families from Pelsall and the surrounding communities.

Our Reception provision supports children with a wide range of starting points, experiences and individual needs. We are committed to ensuring that every child feels safe, valued and included and has access to an ambitious, engaging and developmentally appropriate curriculum.

Through the Reception Network, we hope to work with schools serving a range of communities and contexts. Whether your school is seeking to review its Reception curriculum, strengthen leadership, develop classroom practice or explore approaches to assessment and transition, the network will provide a space for professional discussion and shared learning.

Meet the Reception Network Team
Our Reception Network is supported by colleagues with experience in early years leadership, teaching, curriculum development, professional development and school improvement.

Further information

For further information about joining the network, please contact:

Natalie Rylance
Reception Network Communication Lead
Email: n.davies@ryders-hayes.co.uk

What Is the Reception Network?

Reception Networks form part of the Department for Education’s wider Reception Improvement Offer.

The purpose of the Reception Network is to bring schools together to strengthen effective Reception practice through collaboration, professional discussion, access to expertise and the sharing of practical resources.

Our network will help participating schools to:

Reflect on the quality and impact of their Reception provision.
Use evidence and data to identify strengths and development priorities.
Explore evidence-informed approaches to teaching, learning and assessment.
Learn from practical examples of effective Reception practice.
Develop leadership confidence and subject knowledge.
Strengthen transition into Reception and from Reception into Year 1.
Improve support for children with different starting points and needs.
Share challenges and solutions with colleagues from other schools.
Access relevant Department for Education guidance, tools and resources.
Build lasting professional relationships with schools across the network.

The network will support both strategic leadership and classroom practice. Activities and resources will therefore be relevant to Reception teachers, Early Years Foundation Stage leaders, headteachers, senior leaders and other colleagues involved in Reception improvement.

Reception Network Activity

Our programme of activity will include a combination of virtual and face-to-face opportunities.

Virtual network meetings

Online meetings will provide opportunities for schools to:

Receive updates and information.
Explore evidence-informed practice.
Hear from colleagues and invited speakers.
Discuss common priorities and challenges.
Share resources and examples from their own settings.
Identify practical actions to take back into school.

School visits and open days

Participating schools will be invited to attend visits and open days at Ryders Hayes School.

These sessions may include:

Learning walks within Reception provision.
Opportunities to observe the learning environment.
Discussion with Reception teachers and leaders.
Exploration of curriculum planning and assessment.
Examples of adult interaction and support.
Reflection on transition, inclusion and family engagement.
Time to discuss how approaches could be adapted within different school contexts.

Visits are intended to support professional reflection rather than encourage schools to replicate another school’s provision exactly.

Shared resources

The network will provide access to a carefully selected collection of resources, templates and examples. Wherever possible, resources will be designed so that schools can adapt them to meet the needs of their own children, staff and communities.

Professional collaboration

Schools will have opportunities to contribute to network discussions, share effective practice and learn from the experiences of other Reception teams.

The network will develop in response to the priorities and needs of participating schools, alongside national guidance and expectations from the Department for Education.

Who Can Take Part?

The Reception Network is intended for schools seeking to review, strengthen or further develop their Reception provision.

The network may be particularly helpful for schools that are:

Reviewing their Reception curriculum and provision.
Using Early Years Foundation Stage Profile or Good Level of Development data to inform improvement.
Looking to strengthen leadership of Reception.
Developing approaches to communication, language, literacy or mathematics.
Reviewing assessment and observation practices.
Strengthening transitions into Reception or Year 1.
Developing inclusive provision for children with additional needs.
Seeking practical examples of evidence-informed practice.
Looking to collaborate with other Reception teachers and leaders.

Schools do not need to have identified significant concerns to participate. The network is also suitable for schools that want to build on existing strengths, share effective practice and contribute to professional learning across the area.

Who should attend?

Schools may wish to nominate one or more colleagues involved in Reception leadership and provision, including:

Reception teachers
Early Years Foundation Stage leaders
Headteachers
Deputy or assistant headteachers
Curriculum or phase leaders
Special educational needs coordinators
Teaching assistants or practitioners with relevant responsibilities

Information about attendance requirements for individual activities will be shared when each event is announced.

Department for Education Guidance and Resources

The following national guidance and tools can support schools to review their Reception provision and identify improvement priorities

Reception Improvement Offer

The Department for Education’s Reception Improvement Offer brings together support, webinars, guidance and resources for Reception provision.

[Visit the Reception Improvement Offer on GOV.UK]

Reception Networks

Further information about the national Reception Networks programme is available through the Department for Education.

[Visit the Reception Networks page on GOV.UK]

View Your Education Data

The View Your Education Data platform provides schools with access to education data and reports, including the Compare Your Good Level of Development report.

[Access View Your Education Data]

Compare Your Good Level of Development Data

The Department for Education has published guidance explaining how schools can access and use their Good Level of Development report.

[Read the Compare Your Good Level of Development guidance]

Schools are encouraged to review their Good Level of Development report through View Your Education Data before evaluating Reception provision or developing relevant school improvement priorities.

The report can support leaders to:

Identify areas of strength.
Recognise possible areas for development.
Compare outcomes across different areas of learning.
Support professional discussions with Reception staff and leaders.
Inform appropriate and proportionate improvement planning.

Data should be used as a starting point for professional discussion and considered alongside knowledge of the school, its children and its wider context.

Additional national guidance

We will continue to add relevant Department for Education resources as they become available, including guidance relating to:

The Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework
Development Matters
The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile
Reception assessment
The teaching of writing
Transition into Reception
Transition from Reception into Year 1
Inclusion and special educational needs
Family engagement
Curriculum planning and provision