{"id":120,"date":"2026-01-21T17:24:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T17:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/?page_id=120"},"modified":"2026-03-24T13:58:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:58:24","slug":"evidence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/about\/evidence\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the evidence that the programme works?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/DSC01630-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"TWiTCH rabbit shares a a story.\" class=\"wp-image-538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/DSC01630-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/DSC01630-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/DSC01630-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/DSC01630-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/DSC01630-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2023-24,&nbsp;through funding from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), the TWiTCH pilot programme was evaluated by Durham University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The evaluation explored the programme\u2019s impact on early years practitioners interaction skills and children\u2019s language, confidence, and engagement during story-based learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, <a href=\"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/twitch-pilot-evaluation-report.pdf\">findings<\/a> showed positive changes in practitioner confidence, classroom interaction, and children\u2019s communication, indicating that TWiTCH is a promising approach for supporting early language development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/evidence-twitch_1770833024.png\" alt=\"Visual box with this text on it: Key findings for practitioners and children\" class=\"wp-image-272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/evidence-twitch_1770833024.png 720w, https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/evidence-twitch_1770833024-300x117.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For Practitioners\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improved questioning and discussion skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Made greater use of reasoning-focused questions and reflection time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Increased confidence in leading language-rich activities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For Children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Reports from practitioners suggested:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stronger enjoyment and engagement in stories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Greater confidence to speak, share opinions, and give reasons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use of longer sentences and more expressive language.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improved reasoning and narrative understanding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What This Means\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These early results suggest that by building practitioners confidence in shared book reading and high quality interactions skills, TWiTCH has the potential to foster high quality language outcomes for young children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further evaluation will continue to build the evidence base as the programme is delivered more widely.&nbsp;To find out more and get involved&nbsp;without EEF funded&nbsp;TWiTCH&nbsp;Efficacy Trial, see the TWiTCH&nbsp;Efficacy Trial section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/programme\/\" style=\"background-color:#636b12\">Find out more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-background-color has-background is-style-dots\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The TWiTCH Pilot Evaluation Report<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"991\" src=\"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/twitch-pilot-evaluation-report-thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Thumbnail of the report cover\" class=\"wp-image-274\" style=\"border-width:1px;box-shadow:var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/twitch-pilot-evaluation-report-thumb.jpg 700w, https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/twitch-pilot-evaluation-report-thumb-212x300.jpg 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\" style=\"line-height:1.4\"><strong>Title<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;line-height:1.4\">Talk with tales for Children (TWiTCH) programme<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Authors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">Nadine Fitzfussell, Vic Menzies, Paivi Eerola, Johny Daniel, Kelly Burgoyne, Xiaofei Qi, Helen Cramman<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2026\/02\/twitch-pilot-evaluation-report.pdf\" style=\"background-color:#636b12\">Download now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-width:1px;border-radius:10px;background-color:#cfe8d4\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Thank you to all the settings who took part!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2023-24,&nbsp;through funding from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), the TWiTCH pilot programme was evaluated by Durham University. The evaluation explored the programme\u2019s impact on early years practitioners interaction skills and children\u2019s language, confidence, and engagement during story-based learning. Overall, findings showed positive changes in practitioner confidence, classroom interaction, and children\u2019s communication, indicating that TWiTCH [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-120","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":618,"href":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120\/revisions\/618"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.shu.ac.uk\/twitchefficacytrial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}