Reception · Age 4 to 5 · Early Years Foundation Stage
Reception: what to teach and where to find it.
What the national curriculum asks of this year, which parts of the free course cover it, and a term-by-term path through Level 0, Little Steps English.
Age 4 to 5Early Years Foundation Stage
Level 0Little Steps English
Pre-CEFR (talk and first sounds)CEFR
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Where to start
Level 0: Little Steps English
One Level 0 week per school week, three short sessions a week. Level 0 is the whole Reception year.
If it feels too easy or too hard
Use the placement check, then move up or down a year on this map. Children learning English as an additional language often sit at a different level for speaking, listening, reading and writing: that is normal.
What the national curriculum asks
- Communication and Language is a prime area. By the end of the year the early learning goals ask children to listen attentively and respond, and to speak in full sentences and hold back-and-forth conversations (EYFS framework from September 2026).
- Literacy has three goals. Comprehension: retell stories and narratives in their own words. Word Reading: say a sound for each letter of the alphabet and at least 10 digraphs, read words by sound-blending, and read aloud simple sentences and books matched to their phonic knowledge, including some common exception words. Writing: write recognisable letters, most correctly formed, spell words by identifying sounds, and write simple phrases and sentences that others can read.
- The early learning goals support a best-fit judgement at the end of the year. The framework says they should not be used as a curriculum (EYFS paragraph 1.8).
Summarised in our own words from the official documents listed under Sources. For exact wording, always use the official text.
How the free course covers it
| Phonics and early reading | Phase 1 listening games first, then Phase 2 sets with blending. |
|---|---|
| Talk, rhyme and stories | Songs, rhymes and a daily story. |
| Handwriting | Pre-writing patterns and first letter shapes. Grip and posture matter more than neatness. |
| Writing | Mark-making, a name, labels, a caption, a list. |
| Lesson plans | Short 30-minute sessions for the youngest. |
Some strand pages are still being added to the site and will open as they are published. See the full plan for every strand.
Your year, term by term
A suggested path through Level 0. Each week links to the full week on the level page, with lesson outlines and free resources.
School term 1
Level 0, weeks 1 to 12
- Wk 1 Hello and goodbyeHello. Goodbye. I'm Ana.
- Wk 2 Our classroomSit down. Stand up. Look. Listen.
- Wk 3 ColoursIt's red. Red, please.
- Wk 4 Numbers 1 to 5One, two, three. How many?
- Wk 5 My bodyTouch your nose. This is my hand.
- Wk 6 FeelingsI'm happy. I'm sad.
- Wk 7 ToysWhat's this? It's a ball.
- Wk 8 My familyThis is my mum. This is my brother.
- Wk 9 Numbers 6 to 10How many? Six.
- Wk 10 ShapesIt's a circle. It's big. It's small.
- Wk 11 WeatherIt's sunny. It's raining.
- Wk 12 Review: All About MeTerm 1 language
School term 2
Level 0, weeks 13 to 24
- Wk 13 FoodI like apples. I don't like fish.
- Wk 14 Picnic foodCan I have a banana, please?
- Wk 15 ClothesI'm wearing a hat. Put on your coat.
- Wk 16 PetsI've got a cat. It's small.
- Wk 17 Farm animalsA cow says moo.
- Wk 18 At homeThis is the kitchen. Where's Teddy?
- Wk 19 ActionsI can jump. Can you hop?
- Wk 20 TransportIt's a bus. Beep beep!
- Wk 21 OutdoorsLet's go outside. Up the slide.
- Wk 22 My dayWake up. Brush your teeth. Go to bed.
- Wk 23 BirthdaysHappy birthday! How old are you?
- Wk 24 Review: Our WorldTerm 2 language
School term 3
Level 0, weeks 25 to 36
- Wk 25 Wild animalsA lion is big. Can a monkey climb?
- Wk 26 Under the seaA fish can swim.
- Wk 27 MinibeastsA spider has got eight legs.
- Wk 28 GrowingPlant the seed. It's growing.
- Wk 29 Big and small: GoldilocksIt's too big. It's just right.
- Wk 30 Where is it?It's in the box. It's under the chair.
- Wk 31 People who help usShe's a doctor. He's a farmer.
- Wk 32 ShoppingCan I have an apple, please? Here you are.
- Wk 33 Jack and the beanstalkFee, fi, fo, fum! Up, up, up.
- Wk 34 Our own storyOnce upon a time... The end.
- Wk 35 Getting ready for the showMy name is... I like...
- Wk 36 Review: the story showTerm 3 language
Checks and tests this year
- The Reception Baseline Assessment is a short assessment taken in the first six weeks after a child starts Reception (EYFS paragraph 2.11).
- The EYFS Profile is completed in the final term of the year in which the child turns five (EYFS paragraph 2.13), judged against the early learning goals.
At home
- Read one picture book a day, and let your child choose it.
- Sing the same three or four songs until they are known by heart.
- Talk during everyday jobs: name things, ask what happens next, wait for the answer.