A “large proportion” of pupils on a flagship government early language catch-up programme did not complete the scheme as intended, an evaluation has found.
Fewer than one in ten schools reported completing the full 20-week Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) course in its first year, and less than half said they completed it in year two.
Ministers announced in 2021 that every primary school would be offered support through the scheme.
Backed by £17 million of government funding, it was launched to raise outcomes in early language, communication and speech skills following pandemic disruption.
