Title

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluation of the Effects of the ‘Eager and Able to Learn’ Programme on 2-3 Year Old Children’s Early Dispositions Towards Education

Research Team

Professor Paul Connolly (Joint PI), Dr Ruth Sinclair (Joint PI), Ms Audrey Craven-Lynn, Dr Angela Eakin, Ms Cheryl Gamble, Ms Frances Lyons, Dr Barbara McConnell, Ms Joanne McDowell, Professor Carol McGuinness, Dr Sarah Miller, Dr Glenda Walsh

Timescale

September 2007 – December 2009

Funder

Early Years – The Organisation for Young Children

Aims and Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of the ‘Eager and Able to Learn’ programme in improving 2-3 year old children’s eagerness and ability to learn.

Methodology

A cluster randomised controlled trial is being used to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. 120 early years settings in Northern Ireland have been recruited to participate in the evaluation. 60 of these will be randomly allocated to the intervention group and 60 to the control group. Those in the intervention group will receive training and the programme over the academic year 2008/09. All of the children will be individually tested before and after the intervention using Bayleys in relation to their: language and communication skills; emotional skills and behaviours; thinking and problem solving; levels of persistence and precision; and levels of physical movement. In addition, practitioners and parents will be tested in relation to: their recognition of the importance of and different purposes of play; increased responsiveness to young children in order to support their development; increased recognition of the importance of movement; and increased importance of practitioners and parents working in partnership.

The delivery of the programme in the intervention settings will be monitored carefully and indepth qualitative case studies will be undertaken in four settings that will involve interviews with the children, practitioners and parents and observations of sessions during various time points across the year.

Outputs

A draft report on the evaluation is due to be presented to the funder in September 2009.

Further Information

For further information please contact Dr Angela Eakin