NELI Programme

Resource type: Targeted Intervention

Price band: Free

Key stage: EYFS

Region(s): England

The Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) is a DfE-funded programme that supports the oral language development of children aged 4-5 years. Developed by researchers at the Universities of Oxford, York and Sheffied, it is designed to identify and support children who need additional help with their speaking, listening and communication skills.

The programme is delivered in short small-group and individual sessions over 20 weeks by trained teaching assistants using the resources and lesson materials provided.

Key features:

Access to the digital LanguageScreen assessment tool to identify pupils who would benefit from targeted support. The assessment takes just 10 minutes to administer and expresses a child’s oral language skills in relation to their age. A traffic light system allows schools to quickly identify the children who need additional support.
Online NELI training provides CPD-accredited courses and refresher training to support staff in delivering the programme effectively.
The NELI resource pack provides the materials needed to deliver group and individual intervention sessions.

Cost: Free. Fully funded by the DfE for all eligible primary schools in England. Schools that are not part of the DfE-funded programme can contact OxEd directly to discuss their needs.

About OxEd: OxEd is a University of Oxford spinout company that develops assessments and interventions based on educational research. Founded by the research team behind the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI), its work focuses on helping schools identify children’s learning needs and provide effective, evidence-based support to improve educational outcomes.

Literacy Hive Likes:

The programme will continue to be fully funded by the Department for Education until July 2029.
NELI is one of the most rigorously tested, evidence-based early language programmes in the UK. Independent evaluations have found that children taking part made three to four additional months’ progress compared to children who did not receive the programme, while pupils in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM) made an additional seven months progress.
NELI training is delivered over three online training courses that practitioners can complete at their own pace.
As well as the certified training course, OxEd provides a programme of free, interactive webinars to support successful implementation, with opportunities to learn from other schools using the programme.
OxEd also produces a companion assessment tool, ReadingScreen. Used together, results are automatically plotted on a Simple View of Reading graph, helping teachers identify specific areas of need and plan appropriate interventions.