Communication Friendly Settings programme of professional development for Early Years Practitioners effective in improving the speech and language skills of 3-4-year-olds compared to business as usual

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Speech, language and communication; Not Applicable

• Registration Number: ISRCTN15998528
• Lead Sponsor: Education Endowment Foundation

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2023-10-26
• Last Update Posted: 19 December 2023
• Study Completion: 2026-07-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Ongoing
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1922

Inclusion Criteria

Settings to be recruited from pre-specified Early Years Sronger Practice Hubs. Cohort 1 from North East, North West, Yorks & Humber, East Midlands. Cohort 2 TBD.
Setting level:
1. Settings obtain parent consent for at least 12 children aged 3-4 (in Foundation 1) enrolled to attend for at least 15 hours a week in the academic year 2023/2024 (Cohort 1; C1) or academic year 2024/2025 (Cohort 2; C2) to participate in the study.
2. Settings complete the pre-evaluation staff survey before randomisation (October 2nd 2023; C1) and agree to facilitate child assessments by October 20th 2023 (C1). Cohort 2 dates TBD.
3. Settings agree to participate fully in the evaluation, including completing the programme if selected to be in the intervention group.
4. Settings may only receive one programme funded as part of the Department for Education’s Early Years Recovery Programme between 2022 – 2025.

Children will be eligible to be recruited for the impact study (i.e. to have their data collected for the evaluation) if:
1. They are aged 3-4 (i.e. in Foundation 1 and due to start Reception classes in the academic year 2024/2025 for C1, or 2025/2026 in C2)
2. They are registered to attend the setting for a minimum of 15 hours per week
3. They have signed parental consent.

Exclusion Criteria

Settings will not be eligible for if any of the following apply:
1. Setting participated in EYPDP1 (the Early Years Professional Development Programme)
2. Setting is participating in EYPDP3 in the 2023/24 academic year
3. Setting has previously gained Communication Friendly status (Early Years) through Elklan.
4. Setting is taking part on another SPH funded programme.

Children will not be eligible for recruitment if they have a severe auditory or visual impairment, or severe social communication/autism-related needs. This is because these needs would prevent them from accessing the assessments.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified