Overview
Aligned with the Early Years curricula for Australia and New Zealand, NELI Preschool is a research-backed program designed to enhance children’s oral language skills before they start formal schooling. Through shared book reading and guided play, children develop their vocabulary knowledge, storytelling skills and active listening skills.
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Year Levels Preschool–2
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Curriculum ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA, NZ
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Subject Literacy
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Resource Formats Print, Digital
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Learning Focus Intervention, Vocabulary, Oral language
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Last Updated May 2025
Why NELI Preschool
Oral language enrichment is the cornerstone of all learning
Whether preparing students for schooling or helping them progress to age-level once they have started schooling, NELI Preschool builds a language rich environment that learners from age three to four can benefit from.
With class, small group and individual sessions designed around 20 engaging storybooks, NELI Preschool helps students build confidence and essential communication skills while having fun. Ensuring easy implementation, teachers are supported with practical guidance, online resources and simple yet accurate digital assessment to track progress and ensure each learner gets the support they need.
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Students using NELI Preschool made 3-5 months additional progress in language skills in only six months
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Students with English as an additional language made the same additional progress as children speaking English at home
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Positive effects can be seen longer term with students experiencing continued improvements in language and word reading
What it includes
LanguageScreen
Understand where help is neededStart with LanguageScreen, an assessment tool for 3–11 year olds that is used to track the progress of pupils' oral language skills and identify those who would benefit from interventions or specialist support. Preschools use LanguageScreen to establish a benchmark for students’ oral language skills before using the NELI Preschool resources and to see the impact afterwards.
View a sample report and practice assessment
What it includes
Training
Empower teachersDeepen your understanding of the importance of oral language and gain the skills needed to effectively deliver the program with CPD-certified training courses. The self-paced training takes 8-10 hours and is available online and on-demand via FutureLearn.
What it includes
Teacher Handbooks
Build your planSimplify delivery using the two printed Teaching Handbooks, filled with fully resourced and supported sessions.
What it includes
Trade books
Connect with storiesTwenty engaging and diverse children’s books from Nosy Crow (2019 British Book Awards Children’s Publisher of the Year) include traditional tales, contemporary stories, and non-fiction texts.
What it includes
Flashcards, session cards and press-out characters
Break down barriers with funTarget vocabulary with over 80 beautiful and durable flashcards and engage learners needing more support with story sequencing and weekly session cards, and press-out characters in small group and individual sessions.
What it includes
Elephant puppet, rules poster and stickers
Build confidence and consistencyUse Neli the elephant puppet to support learners in speaking up, and the Listening Rules poster and stickers to build predictability.
What it includes
Digital resource library
Easily access support resourcesAccess digital slides of the books, home learning links to print or download, Neli’s newsletter of continuous provision ideas, song files and more from the easy to use online library.
How it's used
Using NELI Preschool
Scaffolded sessions that are easy to structure for your timetableNELI Preschool sessions are generally completed over 20 cycles, with each cycle focused on a new storybook. Each storybook is supported by:
- five 15-20 minute whole group sessions
- three 10-15 minute small group intervention sessions (suitable for three children per session)
- one 5-10-minute individual intervention session for children needing extra support.
Download the digital sampler to take a look inside the NELI Preschool resources
View the NELI Preschool flipbook
- OxEd — NELI Preschool — Sampler Download PDF (3.6MB)
The LanguageScreen practice assessment allows you to view and use the assessment to see how simple it is! The practice is for sample purposes only so it will not generate a live report, however, you are encouraged to download the sample report below to understand what you can expect when LanguageScreen is used with students.
Practice the LanguageScreen assessment
- OxEd — Languagescreen Assessment Report — Sample Download PDF (1.1MB)
FAQs
Oral language enrichment is most effective when it begins with three to four-year-olds, during the critical period of rapid language development. Starting aged 3–4, in the year before school, helps children build vocabulary, listening and expressive skills early, creating strong foundations for social interaction, learning and later reading and writing success.
Delivered as a structured 20-week program, the approach combines whole-group language activities with targeted small-group and individual sessions. This flexible design helps educators build shared vocabulary and listening skills while providing focused support for children who need extra help developing spoken language.
LanguageScreen works alongside NELI Preschool as an oral language assessment designed for children aged 3–11. It helps educators gather clear baseline and progress information by assessing key listening and speaking skills, supporting early identification and informed planning before, during and after oral language support is delivered.
NELI Preschool sessions are delivered by early years educators and preschool teachers as part of everyday practice. The program is easy to deliver, supported by clear guidance and practical teacher resources, enabling educators to confidently embed structured oral language activities within existing preschool routines and learning environments.
Yes. NELI Preschool is an evidence-based oral language program supported by research, including a randomised controlled trial. Findings show positive impacts on children’s language progress, particularly in vocabulary and listening skills, providing confidence that the program supports early communication development when implemented as designed.
Yes. NELI Preschool supports children with EAL/D needs by providing structured oral language support that develops vocabulary and listening skills. Designed for children learning English as an additional language, the program uses clear modelling, repetition and rich talk experiences to help build confidence and understanding in early learning settings.
The NELI Preschool package includes:
- a practical teacher handbook,
- access to training,
- carefully selected storybooks, and
- ready-to-use classroom resources,
helping educators plan, teach and embed high-quality oral language activities within everyday preschool practice.