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The research behind our assessment apps
and interventions
As a University of Oxford spinout company, research is at our core. Everything OxEd does draws on the science of learning and includes rigorous evaluations of our assessments and interventions. We are proud that several independent evaluations have been completed of the solutions we provide, consistently demonstrating their effectiveness in improving children’s educational outcomes.
NELI Preschool shown to improve children's language skills
New trial shows children make three months' additional progress as a result of participating in NELI Preschool
New independent evaluation of NELI
The national roll-out of NELI had a positive impact on young children. A new evaluation of the program found children made on average four months' additional progress in language skills, with those from less advantaged backgrounds making on average seven months' additional progress.
We're proud to have won the inaugural BESA award for Evidence and Impact
The judges said "OxEd & Assessment demonstrates an outstanding example of a well-designed, comprehensive, independently conducted, and rigorous evaluation."
OxEd founders recognized among best psychology scientists in the world
Professor Charles Hulme and Professor Maggie Snowling were recently recognized as 2023 Research.com Psychology Leaders, being ranked among the top psychology scientists in the world.
LanguageScreen
LanguageScreen was used in a study evaluating the effectiveness of the NELI Program, testing approximately 6,000 children. The findings revealed:
- A 10-15-minute LanguageScreen test administered by teachers and/or teacher aides was found to be as valid and reliable as a 30-minute language assessment conducted by a speech-language pathologist using standardized tests of language ability.
- LanguageScreen identified children with language difficulties and accurately measured improvements in their language skills over time.
Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI)
A series of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) – the gold-standard method for measuring the effectiveness of an intervention – have made NELI the best evidenced language intervention in the world and shown that it brings about educationally meaningful improvements:
- NELI children made 3-5 months’ additional progress in language skills in just six months.
- NELI children’s behavior was shown to improve significantly (compared to the control group).
- English Language Learners (ELL) made the same additional progress as children speaking English at home.
- NELI is the only language intervention to be awarded 5/5 for evidence strength by EEF.
- NELI is not expensive to implement – the EEF’s cost rating is ‘very low’.
- NELI’s positive effects can be seen long-term, with improvements in language and word reading being seen in children two years after the intervention.
NELI Preschool
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of NELI Preschool provided good evidence that whole-class intervention delivered in preschool can produce educationally significant improvements in children’s language skills.
- Children receiving NELI Preschool made three months’ additional progress in their oral language skills.
- NELI Preschool was found to be both scalable and relatively low cost to implement.
- LanguageScreen was shown to be a reliable screener of language skills for this young age group.