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Improving children's educational outcomes through evidence-based oral language assessment, whole-class instruction and targeted intervention.

14/06/2026

Did you know that between ages 3 and 6, children go through one of the most significant periods of language development in their lives?

It makes this a critical window for identifying and addressing oral language delays. Catching them early can make a real difference. If they're left unnoticed, delays tend to persist and widen over time.

Oral language is the foundation for reading, communication, and academic success. This article explains why it matters so much, and why early attention to oracy can change outcomes.

🔗 https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0w0n5W0

10/06/2026

Language development starts in Reception, but its impact lasts a lifetime 💬

We're inviting primary schools across England to join a landmark EEF-funded research trial of OxEd Whole Class and NELI, designed using the strongest evidence-backed teaching approach available.

The focus is on Reception, but that's just the beginning. The programmes, tools and approaches your school could access have the potential to shape how your whole school thinks about and supports oral language development right the way through your school.

It’s free to join, fully supported, and a brilliant way to build a whole-school approach to oracy from the ground up.

308 places are available across England. There's still time for your school to secure one.

Find out more: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0v_fNQ0

08/06/2026

The proposed SEND reforms place increasing emphasis on early identification, timely intervention and stronger mainstream inclusion. Oral language has a critical role to play in helping children get the support they need, when they need it.

Join us for an upcoming webinar exploring how a fully funded, evidence-based oral language pathway, including NELI and NELI Preschool, can help schools and early years settings identify needs quickly, strengthen inclusive practice, and reduce unnecessary escalation into specialist provision.

You'll also hear about practical, data-driven approaches that align with inclusion funding and the expected National Inclusion Standards.

Secure your spot ➡️ https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0v-L7r0

04/06/2026

How do you make language learning exciting for young children?

For the Amazing Acorns at Glade Hill Primary and Nursery School, the answer is NELI Preschool.

Through imagination, adventure and play, children have strengthened their vocabulary and listening skills while taking part in experiences - including a princess ball, pirate ship adventures, beach visits and magical fairytales 🧚

Nursery teacher Mrs Pride says: "NELI Preschool is an outstanding programme that has significantly enriched our youngest learners’ vocabulary, attention skills and overall experiences."

We love hearing children's enjoyment of engaging, play-based learning 💚

02/06/2026

Fewer than half of parents now read with their child every day, and that figure has fallen by more than 30% since 2019.

The impact is real: the attainment gap is now at its widest point in four years. When children fall behind in early literacy, it can affect their confidence, learning, and future opportunities.

The good news is that what parents do at home can make a significant difference. A positive home literacy environment helps build the literacy skills children need to thrive.

A book and a few minutes of shared attention is a great place to start 📖

Read more on why every story shared counts: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vNWCr0

29/05/2026

Oral language is the piece of the literacy puzzle we've been overlooking 🧩

We've long known that phonics is essential. But what if the foundation for reading success is built even earlier, through the language children speak and hear long before they ever encounter a book?

Literacy experts Charles Hulme and MaryKate DeSantis joined the Science of Reading podcast to dig into exactly this. They cover what oral language development really means, how to identify gaps early, and what schools can do to make a meaningful difference.

Read or listen here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vLrn50

20/05/2026

We talk a lot about 'closing the gap' - and Reception is one of the most important opportunities schools have to make a lasting difference.

At this stage, children's oral language is developing rapidly, and the right structured support can have a measurable impact on long-term outcomes.

NELI - Nuffield Early Language Intervention was designed with exactly that window in mind. Professor Becky Francis recently called it "the closest an intervention has got to being an 'education silver bullet'" - and for primary schools in England, it's fully funded.

Find out more: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vtjXQ0

19/05/2026

US school and district leaders, we want to hear from you! 📣

How is your school or district supporting early literacy in 2026? We’re gathering perspectives from educators to understand how oral language is being prioritized in early education.

Take a quick, anonymous survey and have your say. You can opt in at the end to receive the findings from the Oral Language in Early Education Report 📃

Take part here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vpWsF0

16/05/2026

Mental health and oral language go hand in hand 🧠💬

Oral language is one of the most powerful tools a child will ever have. Not just for learning - but for feeling safe, making friends, and understanding the world around them.

Research from the UK found that two-thirds of students most at risk of school exclusion have speech, language, and communication needs. What looks like disruptive behaviour is often a language difficulty in disguise.

Children who don't get early support are more likely to struggle with their mental health, face fewer opportunities, and find it harder to reach their potential as adults.

The good news is: it doesn't have to be this way. Spotting and sorting oral language difficulties early helps every child understand and be understood - and ultimately thrive.

Read more: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vkMmN0

15/05/2026

Children build stronger vocabulary when they're exposed to rich oral language early on - through stories, conversations, and varied experiences. And that head start makes a real difference when they begin school.

That's the thinking behind NELI Preschool: a fully guided programme built around 20 beautiful Nosy Crow books 📖

It's designed to enrich children's oral language skills through shared reading and guided play before formal education begins.

Find out more here 👉 https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0v8mQv0

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