OxEd and Assessment

Fewer than half of parents now read with their child every day, and that figure has fallen by more than 30% since 2019.

The impact is real: the attainment gap is now at its widest point in four years. When children fall behind in early literacy, it can affect their confidence, learning, and future opportunities.

The good news is that what parents do at home can make a significant difference. A positive home literacy environment helps build the literacy skills children need to thrive.

A book and a few minutes of shared attention is a great place to start 📖

Read more on why every story shared counts: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vNWCr0

Oral language is the piece of the literacy puzzle we've been overlooking 🧩

We've long known that phonics is essential. But what if the foundation for reading success is built even earlier, through the language children speak and hear long before they ever encounter a book?

Literacy experts Charles Hulme and MaryKate DeSantis joined the Science of Reading podcast to dig into exactly this. They cover what oral language development really means, how to identify gaps early, and what schools can do to make a meaningful difference.

Read or listen here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vLrn50

We talk a lot about 'closing the gap' - and Reception is one of the most important opportunities schools have to make a lasting difference.

At this stage, children's oral language is developing rapidly, and the right structured support can have a measurable impact on long-term outcomes.

NELI - Nuffield Early Language Intervention was designed with exactly that window in mind. Professor Becky Francis recently called it "the closest an intervention has got to being an 'education silver bullet'" - and for primary schools in England, it's fully funded.

Find out more: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vtjXQ0

US school and district leaders, we want to hear from you! 📣

How is your school or district supporting early literacy in 2026? We’re gathering perspectives from educators to understand how oral language is being prioritized in early education.

Take a quick, anonymous survey and have your say. You can opt in at the end to receive the findings from the Oral Language in Early Education Report 📃

Take part here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vpWsF0

Mental health and oral language go hand in hand 🧠💬

Oral language is one of the most powerful tools a child will ever have. Not just for learning - but for feeling safe, making friends, and understanding the world around them.

Research from the UK found that two-thirds of students most at risk of school exclusion have speech, language, and communication needs. What looks like disruptive behaviour is often a language difficulty in disguise.

Children who don't get early support are more likely to struggle with their mental health, face fewer opportunities, and find it harder to reach their potential as adults.

The good news is: it doesn't have to be this way. Spotting and sorting oral language difficulties early helps every child understand and be understood - and ultimately thrive.

Read more: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0vkMmN0

Children build stronger vocabulary when they're exposed to rich oral language early on - through stories, conversations, and varied experiences. And that head start makes a real difference when they begin school.

That's the thinking behind NELI Preschool: a fully guided programme built around 20 beautiful Nosy Crow books 📖

It's designed to enrich children's oral language skills through shared reading and guided play before formal education begins.

Find out more here 👉 https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0v8mQv0

We had a great time at the National Literacy Trust's Vision for Literacy Business Pledge event in London last week 🇬🇧

It was inspiring to hear from speakers, panellists and organisation representatives about all the important work being done to support literacy - and to see that work celebrated in the inaugural Vision for Literacy Business Pledge Awards 🙌

Congrats to all the winners and nominees!

Literacy is the foundation of knowledge, confidence, and opportunity. It underpins educational success, access to good jobs and long term prosperity.

We have signed the National Literacy Trust’s Vision for Literacy Pledge 2026 📝

By doing this, we pledge to take action to close the literacy gap and empower children with the literacy skills they need to thrive, regardless of their background.

Join us in breaking down barriers to opportunity:
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0t-0yn0