Our project is a 3-year programme of research and development in early years education. It is undertaken by 6 partner institutions integrating primary and pre-school education in Denmark, Croatia, Ireland, Iceland, Greece and Norway. It is focused on what we have termed the RECEPTION challenge: a trans-European need for primary schools to address the diversity of children’s social and educational preparation for their entry to primary school.. A wealth of evidence indicates that:(a) educational disengagement and under-achievement in secondary education is significantly related to early years experience and attainment; (b) children enter primary school with very diverse pre-school experience and readiness; and(c) this diversity has increased as recent patterns of migration within and from outside the EU have added to longer-standing educational disadvantage associated with minority groups and children with special educational needs. We aim to investigate and disseminate successful attempts by our partner institutions to address the RECEPTION challenge within a wide range of demographic and socio-economic contexts and educational systems, in response to the needs of diverse and often disadvantaged children, many from migrant, traveler and Roma communities, and some with special educational needs including position within the autism spectrum. Early years children across the European area are the ultimate beneficiaries of our project, but our immediate target groups are their teachers, school leaders, and associated professionals working within Early Years Education and Care (EHEC). Our general, overall objectives are to investigate and help to meet our target groups’ needs for training and support in addressing the RECEPTION challenge. More specifically, we aim to produce a 5-day residential training course and a substantial RECEPTION handbook which can also be offered together as an online or blended learning module for target groups’ use on their own account or for the training and support of other colleagues within their own institutions. In parallel, we will develop and collate a RECEPTION resource pack of materials and resources for the strategic implementation of related policies and initiatives, renewable and adaptable to the particular circumstances and needs of our target members throughout the European area. After an introduction to the project and its partnership, the training course, handbook and resource pack will have the following broadly indicative contents:1. RECEPTION in European perspective; major issues, policies, and strategies; survey of current trans-European research and development work2. RECEPTION issues and strategies in each of the 6 partner countries; difference and similarities in socio-economic contexts and educational systems; the RECEPTION needs of specific groups and special children3. Documented case studies of “best RECEPTION practice” from each partner country, illustrated by filmed examples and analysis4. Issues in RECEPTION policy and practice in the course delegates’ and other participants’ own countries and institutions