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Evaluation of Infant Language Link, a Two-Armed Cluster Randomised Control Trial. Evaluation Report

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Title: Evaluation of Infant Language Link, a Two-Armed Cluster Randomised Control Trial. Evaluation Report
Language: English
Authors: Martin Culliney, Ester Ehiyazaryan-White, Dieuwerke Rutgers, Karen Daniels, Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) (United Kingdom), Sheffield Hallam University (United Kingdom), Sheffield Institute of Education (SIoE)
Source: Education Endowment Foundation. 2025.
Availability: Education Endowment Foundation. 9th Floor Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP, UK. Tel: +44-207-802-1676; e-mail: info@eefoundation.org.uk; Web site: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 92
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Department for Education (DfE) (United Kingdom)
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Kindergarten
Primary Education
Descriptors: Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten, Preschool Children, Intervention, Language Acquisition, Teaching Methods, Conventional Instruction, Teacher Student Relationship, Screening Tests, Individualized Instruction, Classroom Communication, Ability Identification
Abstract: Infant Language Link is a programme for schools that uses a standardised screening tool to identify pupils with below average language needs and then provides tiered support for identified children. It is developed by Speech Link Multimedia Ltd. For this trial, participating pupils were in Year 1 (age 5 to 6) although the programme usually begins with reception pupils, continuing through Years 1 and 2. Infant Language Link combines whole-class provision delivered by teachers with targeted teaching assistant-led sessions for pupils with mild-to-moderate language needs. The whole-class provision is based on implementing four core strategies intended for use with all children in day to day teaching: 'break it down', 'explain clearly', 'check as you go', and 'keep it visual'. Teachers implement these strategies in every lesson. Targeted support consists of 24 half-hour sessions, held twice per week for this trial, organised as three groups of eight sessions delivered in the sequence 'listening', 'concepts and instructions', and 'language structure'. The expected group size for a targeted intervention session is four pupils. Teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) attend two 60 to 90 minute training webinars run by the delivery team; SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) attend three. Some training sessions are role-specific. The study was funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) through the Department for Education's Accelerator Fund. The project was a two-armed, two-level randomised controlled efficacy trial, with schools randomised to receive Infant Language Link or continue usual teaching practice with Year 1 pupils. A total of 166 schools and 3,021 pupils took part in the trial, which ran from September 2023 to July 2024. Each school selected one class to take part. A maximum of 20 pupils per school were included in the evaluation. The primary outcome measure for the trial was language ability, which included receptive and expressive language. The implementation and process evaluation involved fieldwork visits comprising staff interviews and lesson observations in ten schools. A survey of participating school staff was also carried out. Year 1 pupils in Infant Language Link schools did not make, on average, any additional months progress compared to those in the control group.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED680979
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Evaluation of Infant Language Link, a Two-Armed Cluster Randomised Control Trial. Evaluation Report
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martin+Culliney%22">Martin Culliney</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ester+Ehiyazaryan-White%22">Ester Ehiyazaryan-White</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dieuwerke+Rutgers%22">Dieuwerke Rutgers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karen+Daniels%22">Karen Daniels</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Education+Endowment+Foundation+%28EEF%29+%28United+Kingdom%29%22">Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) (United Kingdom)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sheffield+Hallam+University+%28United+Kingdom%29%2C+Sheffield+Institute+of+Education+%28SIoE%29%22">Sheffield Hallam University (United Kingdom), Sheffield Institute of Education (SIoE)</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Education+Endowment+Foundation%22"><i>Education Endowment Foundation</i></searchLink>. 2025.
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  Data: Education Endowment Foundation. 9th Floor Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP, UK. Tel: +44-207-802-1676; e-mail: info@eefoundation.org.uk; Web site: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/
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  Data: 2025
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  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Infant Language Link is a programme for schools that uses a standardised screening tool to identify pupils with below average language needs and then provides tiered support for identified children. It is developed by Speech Link Multimedia Ltd. For this trial, participating pupils were in Year 1 (age 5 to 6) although the programme usually begins with reception pupils, continuing through Years 1 and 2. Infant Language Link combines whole-class provision delivered by teachers with targeted teaching assistant-led sessions for pupils with mild-to-moderate language needs. The whole-class provision is based on implementing four core strategies intended for use with all children in day to day teaching: 'break it down', 'explain clearly', 'check as you go', and 'keep it visual'. Teachers implement these strategies in every lesson. Targeted support consists of 24 half-hour sessions, held twice per week for this trial, organised as three groups of eight sessions delivered in the sequence 'listening', 'concepts and instructions', and 'language structure'. The expected group size for a targeted intervention session is four pupils. Teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) attend two 60 to 90 minute training webinars run by the delivery team; SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) attend three. Some training sessions are role-specific. The study was funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) through the Department for Education's Accelerator Fund. The project was a two-armed, two-level randomised controlled efficacy trial, with schools randomised to receive Infant Language Link or continue usual teaching practice with Year 1 pupils. A total of 166 schools and 3,021 pupils took part in the trial, which ran from September 2023 to July 2024. Each school selected one class to take part. A maximum of 20 pupils per school were included in the evaluation. The primary outcome measure for the trial was language ability, which included receptive and expressive language. The implementation and process evaluation involved fieldwork visits comprising staff interviews and lesson observations in ten schools. A survey of participating school staff was also carried out. Year 1 pupils in Infant Language Link schools did not make, on average, any additional months progress compared to those in the control group.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 92
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Early Childhood Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kindergarten
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
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      – SubjectFull: Intervention
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      – SubjectFull: Language Acquisition
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      – SubjectFull: Teaching Methods
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      – SubjectFull: Conventional Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Student Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Individualized Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Classroom Communication
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      – SubjectFull: Ability Identification
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