Research School Network: Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) registration open for schools new to NELI Department for Education funding makes Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) available to further schools in 2021/2022

The Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) will be available to schools to receive the programme in the next academic year.

The Department for Education has made up to £8 million available for state-funded schools with reception pupils in England to access Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) in the academic year 2021/22. Registration is now open to schools who did not receive DfE funded NELI resources in 2020/21. Schools new to NELI can apply to receive online training, resources and delivery support at no cost.

The 20-week programme is typically delivered by teaching assistants or early years educators to small groups of three to five pupils and aims to develop children’s oral language and early literacy skills.

For more information, visit https://www.teachneli.org/ including a series of webinars to share information about the NELI programme and its national scale up across England.

About the research:
A recent robust evaluation of the programme in 193 schools, carried out by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) found that reception-age children receiving the NELI programme made the equivalent of + three months additional progress in oral language skills and an additional two months of progress in early reading skills. This evaluation makes it the most well evidenced early language programme available to schools in England.

About the DfE funded offer:
Due to the popularity of the programme in 2020/21 and the ongoing impact of the pandemic on nursery children’s access to education, care and enriching activities, the DfE is committed to providing NELI to more schools and pupils. As part of the DfE funded offer schools new to NELI could register and receive the full three aspects of the programme: 

• Online training and support for teaching assistants and Reception class teachers
• Access to a tablet-based language assessment tool (called Language Screen) 
• Engaging resources to deliver the small group and individual sessions (worth £395)