Supporting oral language development in preschool
NELI Preschool is an evidence-based early language program to improve the oral language skills of children in the year before they begin formal schooling. The program can be delivered flexibly across a minimum of 20 weeks by teachers and teacher aides. It is aligned to the Early Years curricula for Australia and New Zealand.
Webinar
Unlocking Language: Addressing the Oral Language Needs of the COVID Nursery Generation
The COVID pandemic disrupted critical early language development, leaving many preschool-aged children facing significant challenges in this area. This webinar explores the research behind oral language development and its essential role in supporting young children’s reading, literacy and overall academic development. It also highlights the importance of early identification, enrichment, and intervention in helping children with weak oral language skills catch up with their peers. Drawing on current research and real-world data, this webinar provides actionable insights for educators to effectively address communication delays, ensuring children thrive both academically and socially.
Program Structure
NELI Preschool includes three main components. an easy-to-use and reliable assessment of language skills, called LanguageScreen, CPD-certified training and end-to-end support, and a whole-class enrichment program with targeted support for children with weaker language skills.
Language assessment
LanguageScreen is a quick, reliable and highly accurate language assessment screener. A teacher can, in less than ten minutes, obtain a comprehensive, personalised report and standardised score of a child’s language ability. LanguageScreen is used to assess the language skills of all children in the preschool group, accurately identify the children who need additional targeted support, and evaluate the progress all children have made at the end of the program.
CPD-certified training
NELI Preschool training is delivered completely online so you can complete the courses at your own pace. The courses are CPD-certified and will take 8-10 hours to complete. Training explores language development, critical strategies to support language skills, how to deliver NELI Preschool and videos of NELI Preschools sessions.
Whole class enrichment with targeted support
The NELI Preschool program is built around the shared reading and guided play of 20 carefully selected and beautiful Nosy Crow books. The intervention targets children’s vocabulary knowledge, narrative (storytelling) skills and active listening. It is a guided and fully resourced program.
Each of the 20 books is used over five sessions. In Whole Group Sessions, all children hear the stories and are introduced to new words. A range of fun activities deepen understanding and encourage children to use the new vocabulary and build their narrative skills.
For students who need extra support, Small Group and Individual sessions reinforce this learning and focus on developing the child’s understanding and skill development.
NELI Preschool Impact
A randomised controlled trial led by the NELI team at the University of Oxford showed that NELI Preschool significantly improved the oral language skills of children taking part. Children made the equivalent of 3 months’ additional progress.
What are teachers saying about NELI Preschool?
Teachers and practitioners highly praised the program for its clear structure and high-quality material and for the impact it had on children, as well as the broader impact it had on reducing overall staff workload and much more.
We have been blown away by the progress that children are making as a result of NELI Preschool. Their confidence to express themselves is the most noticeable.
Yvonne Langan, EYFS Lead
Rosebuds Day Nursery, Liverpool, England