This project was recruiting, but is now full. 

Infant Language Link is an online package enabling schools to identify and support children who have mild to moderate speech and language needs, using a standardised screening assessment and tiered levels of intervention support.

Teachers and TAs are trained through an online webinar delivered by a Speech and Language Therapist. TAs screen all Year 1 pupils using an online screening tool. Teachers use universal strategies in the classroom, and pupils identified as requiring additional support participate in targeted group sessions with 4 – 5 pupils. All identified pupils receive a core ​‘listening group’, followed by two additional language groups identified by the assessment. One group consists of 8 x 30-minute sessions delivered twice weekly by TAs, with session plans provided for all groups. Pupils not making expected progress receive additional intensive support for a short period.

Infant Language Link is delivered by Speech Link Multimedia Ltd. It was developed by trained Speech and Language Therapists. All mainstream state funded schools with a Year 1 class are eligible.

Go to Speech Link Multimedia’s website to find out more: speechandlanguage.info/study.

As part of the Department for Education’s Accelerator Fund, the EEF is commissioning a number of trials of programmes that show promise for increasing pupil attainment.

Infant Language Link was developed by Speech and Language Therapists and had initial development support from the Psychometrics Centre at the University of Cambridge. It was previously evaluated using a quasi-experimental design which indicated that children using the programme make improvements in receptive language and expressive grammar compared to children who were not using the programme. It is currently used by around 2800 schools annually in England, with around a quarter of these schools operating in areas of high disadvantage. This evaluation seeks to add to the evidence base on the benefits of a language screening tool and programme that supports language development in Year 1 children, an area where there is currently an evidence gap.

Infant Language Link is being independently evaluated at an efficacy level. This means that it will be delivered to a fixed number of settings under ideal conditions. The evaluation will be a two-armed cluster-randomised controlled trial, with randomisation at school level. 170 schools will be randomly allocated to either deliver Infant Language Link, or be allocated to the control group which will continue supporting pupils as they would usually in their schools. Control schools will receive £500 as a thank you for taking part in the evaluation activities.

The primary outcome will be the impact of Infant Language Link on language and communication skills in pupils at the end of Year 1, using the CELF‑5 receptive and expressive language subtests and the Renfrew Action Picture Test.

A team from Sheffield Hallam University will be conducting the independent evaluation, led by Martin Culliney.