The DfE said that more than 90,000 children in Reception classes have been able to access the catch-up language programme, since it launched in August 2020.
Pupils taking part make around three months of extra progress in language skills than their peers, according to the Government.
Children and families minister Will Quince said, ‘Being able to confidently communicate is vital in shaping a child’s ability to understand and engage with the wider world.
‘Language is key to a child’s development and we know that for many children the pandemic meant they missed out on important early social interactions, like parties or play dates. It is incredibly encouraging to see how many schools have taken advantage of the Nuffield offer, helping kids get back on track with these vital skills so they can communicate with their friends and teachers and thrive at school.’
Josh Hillman, director of education at the Nuffield Foundation, said, ‘Children in Reception classes have had a huge proportion of their lives dominated by the pandemic, which has limited their opportunities to interact and develop language skills, for some more than others. The fact that two thirds of primary schools have arranged to receive NELI and are investing time in delivering the programme shows the value of access to an intervention that has been proven to work.’
Delivered over 20 weeks per school, NELI involves scripted individual and small-group language sessions delivered by trained teaching staff to children identified as needing targeted language support.
More than 20,000 staff members have received online training, allowing them to deliver the 20 weeks of support to those pupils needing it. Sessions with the children feature ‘Ted’, the NELI puppet, for games that help them concentrate on their speaking, listening and learning.
Schools taking part in the programme have access to an entry and exit language screening assessment tool, for use with their Reception pupils, to monitor their progress and help plan for children as they move into Year 1.
Findings from the most recent large-scale trial of NELI, funded by the Education Endowment Foundation, found that children receiving the intervention made an extra three months’ extra progress in their oral language skills compared to children who did not.
The expansion for the 2021-22 schools year is managed and delivered by the Nuffield Foundation on the Government’s behalf, supported by the University of Oxford and Oxford University Press.
Developed by researchers at the Universities of Oxford, Sheffield and York, NELI offers individual and small-group language teaching sessions to between three and six pupils, run by a trained teaching assistant or early years professional.
The DfE said that primary schools not currently signed up the NELI programme should have other programmes in place to help young children develop their early language and communication skills.
This is being monitored by Ofsted to make sure no child loses out due to the school they attend, they said.
The department is encouraging primary schools not already taking part to sign up to the scheme.
At the time of writing the website says that registration is closed for 2021/2 but the FAQ directs schools that have not registered and would like to access the programme to email primary.enquiries@oup.com.
Nursery World has queried the information on the NELI website regarding registration with the DfE and is awaiting a response.
