Language Screen

Language Screen

 

 

 

 

 

 

LanguageScreen: App-based screening of children’s early language skills

RSEs: Dr. Mihaela Duta and Dr. Abhishek Dasgupta

 

LanguageScreen is a digital assessment tool developed by our group in close collaboration with education researchers at the University of Oxford. Designed for use by education professionals, the app guides users through a structured set of language activities with young children and provides automated, individualised reports through a secure backend system.

The tool played a critical role in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme—a 20-week evidence-based intervention that was part of the UK government's 2020 COVID-19 education recovery package. Thousands of schools across the UK adopted the LanguageScreen app to identify children in Reception year who would benefit from additional support in developing their oral language skills.

The project exemplifies OxRSE’s mission: transforming research into scalable, production-grade software that enables societal impact. Our work on LanguageScreen led to the formation of the spin-out company OxEd and Assessment, ensuring sustainable delivery and ongoing development of the tool. The collaboration also demonstrates our strength in delivering secure, user-friendly applications that handle sensitive data responsibly while supporting large-scale deployment in real-world settings.

 

Publications:

  • Hulme, C., West, G., Rios Diaz, M., Hearne, S., Korell, C., Duta, M., & Snowling, M. J. (2025). The Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme is associated with lasting improvements in children’s language and reading skills. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.14157
  • West, G., Lervåg, A., Birchenough, J. M. H., Korell, C., Rios Diaz, M., Duta, M., Cripps, D., Gardner, R., Fairhurst, C., & Hulme, C. (2024). Oral language enrichment in preschool improves children's language skills: A cluster randomised controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13947​
  • Hulme, C., McGrane, J., Duta, M., West, G., Cripps, D., Dasgupta, A., Hearne, S., Gardner, R., & Snowling, M. J. (2024). LanguageScreen: The development, validation, and standardization of an automated language assessment app. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 55(3), 904–917. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_LSHSS-24-00004​
  • West, G., Lervåg, A., Snowling, M. J., Buchanan-Worster, E., Duta, M., & Hulme, C. (2022). Early language intervention improves behavioral adjustment in school: Evidence from a cluster randomized trial. Journal of School Psychology, 92, 334–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2022.04.006

 

News Articles:

The UK government and Nuffield Foundation have published several articles detailing the development and impact of the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme, which utilizes the LanguageScreen tool to screen the pupils for the NELI intervention. These articles also provide insights into how LanguageScreen and NELI have been integrated into educational settings to support children's language development.