This report provides a summary of the completed Overcoming Disadvantage in Early Childhood (ODEC) longitudinal research study. The study was designed to evaluate the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation’s (ALNF) Early Language and Literacy (EL&L) program by answering the research question: What is the effect of the EL&L program on the development of language and literacy skills in preschool aged children? An integral component of this study was the development of the Early Language and Literacy Developmental Index (ELLDI), a new tool to measure oral language and literacy learning. The development of the ELLDI was based on the recognised need for a fit for purpose early childhood best practice measure of oral language and literacy. This summary report highlights the demonstrated capacity of the EL&L program to close the language and literacy achievement gap for children who participate in the program, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It also encapsulates the successful development of the ELLDI and the ELLDI scale to accurately measure and map children’s language and literacy development, to inform teaching and learning.
© The Australian Council for Educational Research 2023. With the exception of any material protected by a trademark, and where otherwise noted, all material presented in this document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Overcoming Disadvantage in Early Childhood Project was funded by donations from Eureka Benevolent Foundation and CAGES Foundation to the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation’s Early Language and Literacy program. ALNF is a registered national charity dedicated to raising language, literacy and numeracy standards in Australia. ALNF’s programs aim to create a more inclusive Australia, unlocking potential through the power of language, literacy and learning. It works in partnership with First Nations, refugee and other vulnerable Australians to address the language and literacy learning needs of individuals and communities, giving them a better chance to succeed.
The full report is available at http://research.acer.edu.au/early_childhood_misc/32