twilight talks promo image dark green background with white text that reads twilight talks alongside the nasen logo and a cartoon owl on a branch

Twilight Talk: Oral Language - The Heart of Learning

  • Webcasts
  • 24 Jun 2025
Twilight Talks

Research unequivocally shows oral language is the foundation of all literacy. Yet many pupils enter school with language delays, impacting their ability to read, access the curriculum and even their well-being. These challenges also disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, including English Language Learners and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.    

This session will first dive into the Science of Reading, emphasising the dual pillars of learning to read: decoding and language comprehension. We then explore research that underscores how language underpins the entire process of learning to read. This session goes on to highlight the long-term impact of language deficits and demonstrate how early identification and intervention can produce meaningful improvements in outcomes. 

Once you have finished watching this recording please do complete our short evaluation.

You can read more about our Twilight Talks sessions on our dedicated page.

Suitable for: A parent/carer, Administration Staff, Assistant Head Teacher, Consultant, Deputy Head Teacher, Early Years Practitioner, Educational Psychologist, Governor, Head Teacher, Inclusion Manager/Leader, Newly Qualified Teacher, SENCO, Senior Leader, Student, Support staff, Teacher, Tutor, Young person, Other

Full access to this resource is available for:


Free

You must be logged in to to get access

LOG IN
Complete our short survey

Meet your trainer - Sarah Hearne

Sarah holds an MSc in Social Cognition and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. At the University of Oxford, she worked on research into the effectiveness of the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) using LanguageScreen and also supported the rollout of NELI to thousands of schools across England. In her role at OxEd, Sarah supports schools to deliver the NELI programme in the UK and internationally. 

Sarah Hearne

You may also be interested in

twilight talks promo image light green background with white text that reads twilight talks alongside the nasen logo and a cartoon owl on a branch

Twilight Talk: The role of attachment and trauma in education for those with SEND

  • Webcasts
  • 23 Oct 2026
Free
Twilight Talks

The Twilight Talk will explore the role of attachment in education and how secure relationships can support regulation, engagement and learning.

View resource
twilight talks promo image dark green background with white text that reads twilight talks alongside the nasen logo and a cartoon owl on a branch

Twilight Talk: Why Is Learning So Hard? What Brain Science Tells Us, and How We Can Help Every Child Learn

  • Webcasts
  • 15 Oct 2026
Free
Twilight Talks

Why do some children make steady progress while others, given the same teaching, remain stuck despite effort, support, and time? This talk draws on cognitive neuroscience.

View resource
twilight talks promo image dark green background with white text that reads twilight talks alongside the nasen logo and a cartoon owl on a branch

Twilight Talk: Supporting children and young people with Down syndrome in mainstream schools

  • Webcasts
  • 15 Oct 2026
Free
Twilight Talks

This twilight talk explores how mainstream schools can effectively support children and young people with Down syndrome to achieve positive educational, social, and emotional outcomes.

View resource