Commenting as the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) publish an independent evaluation of the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) Covid recovery programme, James Bowen, director of policy for school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“There is no doubt that the disruption caused by the pandemic had a negative effect on the development of some young children, and many school leaders have reported concerns around speech and language development in particular. With that in mind, it is positive to see that many schools found this programme to be beneficial for their pupils’ oral language skills, and that this positive effect appears to be sustained over time.

"It is equally important to remember that schools will be taking a holistic approach to supporting the youngest children, focusing on all aspects of their development – this is not something that can be rushed. It is essential that schools are given the necessary resources and funding to be able to meet the needs of all children and to continue to support the very youngest.”