NELI Preschool is a 20-week oral language programme designed to improve the oral language skills of children aged 3 – 4 years-old.
Delivery is centred around shared storybook reading and guided play. Each week focuses on a different book: a mixture of traditional tales, contemporary stories and non-fiction. Weekly activities are designed to encourage the development of a rich vocabulary and the ability to listen to, tell and enjoy stories.
The intervention includes two core components, delivered by nursery staff:
- universal language enrichment for all children in nursery (via daily 20-minute whole group sessions)
- targeted intervention for those with the weakest oral language skills (via three weekly 15-minute small group sessions and one 5‑minute individual session).
NELI Preschool is delivered by OxEd, creators of the NELI intervention.
- Wider evidence summarised in the EEF’s Early Years Evidence Store suggests that high-quality interactions with children in early years settings can positively impact children’s oral language development. Drawing on this evidence-base, the EEF evaluated the impact of NELI Preschool on the oral language skills of children aged 3 – 4‑years-old through an effectiveness trial. This effectiveness trial means the EEF trialled this programme in a larger number of settings in circumstances that are as close as possible to everyday conditions.
- This evaluation found that children in early years settings that delivered NELI Preschool made an average of two additional months’ progress in their oral language skills compared to children in control settings. This result has a four padlock security rating, meaning we are confident that this additional progress was caused by the programme itself rather than other factors.
- Children eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) also made an average of two additional months’ progress in their oral language skills compared to children in control settings. There is more uncertainty about the findings for this group of children because of the smaller number of children included in the analysis.
- A follow-up study will look at the longer-term impact of the programme on children’s Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP). This study is expected to be published in Summer 2027.
These positive results have led EEF to designate NELI Preschool as a ‘Promising Programme’.
- There were 303 early years settings from across England involved in this effectiveness trial.
- 25% of children in the trial were eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium.
- The majority of the settings were maintained nurseries (58%). 41% were PVIs.
Settings receive comprehensive online practitioner training and support from speech and language specialists from the NELI Preschool team. All practitioners delivering the intervention must have completed the online training course, which is expected to take 8 – 10 hours.
Settings receive 20 storybooks, one for each week of the intervention, printed materials and access to a digital language screening tool (LanguageScreen). This is used to assess children’s oral language skills at the beginning and end of the programme, and to identify children with weaker language skills who would benefit from targeted intervention. Settings also have access to digital resources centred around the book of the week, including guided digital slides, continuous provision ideas, and weekly newsletters for parents and caregivers.
Whole group sessions are delivered for ~ 20 minutes daily by nursery staff, usually the room leader or class teacher. The children with the weakest oral language skills in the class receive three additional 15-minute small group sessions and one 5‑minute individual session per week, delivered by nursery practitioners or teaching assistants.
The evaluation found that the programme was implemented well by settings. Although staff reported that they spent significant time on training and preparation, this was mostly felt to be manageable and supported by the quality of the programme resources. Sufficient staffing and access to quiet spaces for small‑group sessions were found to be key factors in effective implementation.
For the programme as trialled in the latest evaluation, the average cost of NELI Preschool for one setting was £2,682.80, or £40.65 per pupil per year when averaged over 3 years.
This is an estimate of holistic setting costs to implement the programme at the time of the evaluation (including staff time to complete the online training). Settings will need to check the current cost of the programme through contacting the team at OxEd.
Settings can learn more about NELI Preschool programme at: https://oxedandassessment.com/uk/neli-preschool/.
This programme is available for settings across the UK to implement. Settings can request further information from OxEd about bringing NELI Preschool to their setting.