(Founding) Professional Membership Now Available

Reduced introductory rate

Not all curriculum & pedagogy documents will be available immediately. Each resource page will clearly show availability dates. The remaining documents listed as components within Reception Pathway strands will be made available by March 31st 2026 at no additional cost to Founding Members.

🎓 Reception (4-5 Years)

Play-based pedagogy, progression and confident preparation for the EYFSP.

Who this pathway is for:

This pathway supports Reception practitioners and leaders to design and articulate high-quality EYFS practice that meets statutory requirements while protecting play, exploration and developmentally appropriate teaching.

What you’ll find here:

  • Reception curriculum frameworks and phase guidance

  • Continuous provision expectations for Reception

  • Adult-led and adult-guided teaching guidance

  • EYFSP interpretation and assessment support

  • Transition to Year 1 guidance


This pathway does not turn Reception into Year 1. It supports strong foundations through play-based, intentional teaching.

Start here:

  1. 🔗 Reception Pedagogy Position Statement

  2. 🔗 Reception Curriculum Overview & Rationale


    Or Read about our wider EYFS birth-5 curriculum intent & pedagogy:

    ‘Little Owls Resources’ Curriculum Intent Statement’ &

    ‘EYFS from Birth to 5 | Curriculum Coherence & Pedagogical Throughline’

Professional Membership Contents (Reception 4-5 Years)

Below you will find listed the component documents of our ‘Reception Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite’. They are separated into Strands 1-10. You do not need to use everything all at once. You may wish to start with the documents suggested above for orientation.

Additional Whole-Setting Guidance | for Professional Members

Explore our whole-setting birth-5 guidance below, including overarching curriculum and pedagogy documents, early years schemas and EYFS setting policies.

Looking for a different age group pathway?

Select the pathway that best reflects your role or the age group you work with. You do not need to use everything. (Some practitioners may use more than one pathway.)

Featured
🍼 Babies (0–18 months)
🍼 Babies (0–18 months)

Responsive care, observation and development in the earliest years

🚼 Toddlers (18–36 months)
🚼 Toddlers (18–36 months)

Development, play and progression in the toddler years

🎨 Preschool (3–4 years)
🎨 Preschool (3–4 years)

Curriculum, continuous provision and purposeful teaching

🎓 Reception (4–5 years)
🎓 Reception (4–5 years)

Play-based pedagogy, progression and EYFSP readiness

🏡 Childminders (Birth–5)
🏡 Childminders (Birth–5)

Mixed-age pedagogy, planning without overload and inspection confidence

Alternatively, learn more about and explore our printable provision resources.

Thousands of ready-to-use printables to support provision, organisation, routines and learning across the EYFS.

Are you looking for a specific resource or document for your provision?

Use our 🔍 Search Bar located at the top of every page.