In partnership with EEF and NatCen.
We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and NatCen on a research programme focusing on the impact of the REAL programme.
Funded by EEF and the Department for Education, this research is being evaluated through a randomised control trial which aims to replicate the original REAL project delivered by Professors Cathy Nutbrown and Peter Hannon at the University of Sheffield.
53 schools, in 3 cluster areas, from the North of England are participating in the programme.
A group of nursery aged children were selected in each school and randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The model we are using is not a deficit model; some children will receive additional support through the programme but no child will be disadvantaged because of the trial.
Teachers attended four inspirational professional development days with Professors Cathy Nutbrown and Peter Hannon during early 2020. Following which they began delivering REAL projects to children in their intervention group.
Through the programme, teachers will share the ORIM Framework (Opportunities, Recognition, Interaction and Model) with families through a series of home visits and literacy events.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic we have worked closely with the teachers, utilising their fantastic creativity, to adapt the programme to ensure it can continue whilst socially distanced.