The importance of a great start in life cannot be underestimated, and I am therefore delighted that many schools across Runnymede and Weybridge are benefitting from the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI). This programme has proven to be effective in raising outcomes in Reception-age children’s early language, communication and speech skills.
Locally, Manorcroft Primary School, Stepgates Community School, Ongar Place Primary School, Darley Dene Primary School, Sayes Court School, Englefield Green Infant School and Nurseries, Oatlands School and Hythe Primary School are already receiving training and resources free of charge to help improve outcomes for their youngest students.
The Government have invested £17m on delivering this programme in this academic year, and recruitment is currently open for the 2021/22 academic year. I am delighted that Trumps Green Infant School, Meadowcroft Community Infant School, St James CofE Primary School have already signed up to benefit. The programme is open to all state-funded schools in England with Reception pupils. Schools should go to www.teachneli.org to register.
Ensuring our youngest children get the support they need is vital to give them the best opportunities in life. Working with our schools to help and encourage children across Runnymede and Weybridge is a privilege and a pleasure, and I am grateful for all the amazing work our schools do each day to deliver this. The NELI programme provides fantastic additional resources to support them in this work.
Since 2018 the Department for Education has committed over £85m on programmes to improve early language and literacy, with a further £153m recently announced for training early years staff to support the very youngest children as part of the education recovery strategy.
