The Child Development Initiative will be launching the evaluation of the Doodle Den After-school Literacy Programme in Dublin in early November. The Doodle Den After-school Progamme was evaluated through a randomised control trial design by a team from within the CEE. The Doodle Den pilot progamme aimed to make moderate improvements among 5 and 6 year old children who were struggling early readers in Tallaght West, Dublin. The three year evaluation, led by Dr Andy Biggart, followed three different year cohorts of children and showed the programme succeeded in its initial aims. Not only was the programme shown to improve children’s overall literacy ability, there was also evidence to suggest that it had a positive impact on improving concentration and reducing problem behaviours in school.

There has been a great deal of  interest in the success of the programme, which has received further funding to continue in Tallaght West and although the findings of the trial are just being released  it is already being rolled out to other struggling readers in Limerick

The evaluation report will be launched by RTE’s John Murray at Buswells Hotel, Dublin at 4pm on Tuesday 6th November.

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