'Catch-up' language programme announced for Reception classes
Hannah Crown
Thursday, August 27, 2020
A new programme targeted at boosting the language skills of Reception-age children in disadvantaged areas has been announced by government.
The funding, which is available to state-funded schools and nursery schools but not PVI settings, is for an early years ‘catch up’ programme focused on raising outcomes in speaking and language skills to compensate for the disruption caused by Covid-19.
The government says ‘up to’ £9 million is available for schools wanting to deliver the Nuffield Early Language Intervention - a 20-week oral language intervention delivered by teaching assistants in groups of 3 to 4 children.
The investment is part of the National Tutoring Programme, a £1 billion Covid catch-up package announced in June. Every state funded school which has a Reception class will be invited to apply for this support, with priority given to schools with a high proportion of disadvantaged pupils.
The decision not to make funding available for children in nurseries and other PVI settings has been criticised, with Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said that by focusing on Reception classes and Maintained Nursery Schools, the government is ignoring over a million children and those who work with them.
She said: 'If the government is truly committed to levelling up our children’s education and addressing the attainment gap they should see that learning does not start at the school gates. The whole of the early years sector needs transitional financial support and fair rates for the childcare they provide, and they need them now.'
The programme has been reviewed by the Education Endowment Foundation as ‘promising’.
Professor Becky Francis, CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation, said:
'Our trials have shown the Nuffield Early Language Intervention to be a low-cost way to boost young children’s speaking and listening skills.'
Children’s Minister Vicky Ford said:
‘Nurseries and other early years settings have played a huge part in keeping our youngest children safe and supported throughout the pandemic, but too many children have missed out on education at a crucial point in their development.’
She added ‘We cannot afford for our youngest children to lose out, which is why this package of support is focused on improving early language skills for the Reception children who need it most, and especially those whose long-term outcomes who have been affected by time out of education.’
The language programme can be viewed here:
