The Government will provide funding to extend a programme designed to boost language development in young children, amid evidence linking screen time to delays in speech and behaviour.
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the rollout of ENRICH to 525 early childhood education services, up from 65 centres where it has operated to date. The New Zealand-developed programme targets children aged 18 months to 5 years and aims to strengthen language skills before school entry.
Budget 25 allocated $12.4 million to oral language support in the early years. The expansion will proceed in phases as provider capacity increases.
Trial results
A year-long trial of the programme found participating children showed stronger oral language in post-tests compared with baseline assessments. The trial also recorded improvements in self-regulation, alongside gains in early literacy, social skills and lower levels of negative affect.
Stanford said some children were arriving at school behind expected development. "We have seen five-year-old children arriving at school with the language skills of two-year-olds, and we needed to take action," she said.
Screen time link
Research has found that elevated screen exposure at home correlates with diminished parent-child interaction quality, slower language development and behaviour problems in young children.
The ENRICH model equips teachers with practical tools and coaching to build children's language through everyday interactions, play and conversation in early childhood settings.
What comes next
Stanford said the expansion aimed to give every child "the strongest possible start, so they arrive at school ready to learn and ready to thrive".
The phased rollout will see the programme reach 525 services as training capacity and provider networks expand.