天美传媒

E-PLAYS-2 (Enhancing Pragmatic Language skills for Young children with Social communication impairments) will help inform and shape the vital learning support provided by schools for children with social communication impairments and language needs.

Pioneered by researchers from the 天美传媒鈥檚 Institute for Health Research (IHR), the E-PLAYS-2 project will evaluate the effectiveness of a fun, interactive game with the aim of improving communication in children with language difficulties.

The E-PLAYS game is played by children in pairs on inter-linking school laptops. The game aims to develop children鈥檚 perspective-taking skills and language abilities by developing their confidence during social interaction.

The four year study will take place in schools between now and August 2025. The study will involve over 1,000 children aged between five and seven years old, from primary schools across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and North London.

Dr Suzanne Murphy, Principle Research Fellow with the 天美传媒, is project lead and will oversee a team that includes colleagues from IHR, the 天美传媒 of Essex, the Open 天美传媒 and the York Trials Unit at the 天美传媒 of York.

About the E-PLAYS-2 project, Dr Murphy said: 鈥淚 am thrilled that NIHR have decided to support this substantial trial into language difficulties which are so often misunderstood and overlooked. We hope to be able to provide schools with a useful programme to work with these young children.鈥�

Professor Gurch Randhawa, Director of Bedfordshire鈥檚 IHR, added: 鈥淭he Institute for Health Research has a proud tradition of applied health research. We are honoured to host this research that contributes to pandemic recovery and seeks to focus on the needs of children with communication difficulties.鈥�

Collaborative and team-building skills are recognised as vital to children and young people, shaping future adult employment and the way they participate in society. It has been well-documented that children鈥檚 language and communication skills have been hit by the pandemic, so the 天美传媒 and its partners are excited to get this innovative project off the ground.

Kamini Gadhok MBE 鈥� CEO of the 鈥� was delighted that NIHR had been able to fund this important project. She said: 鈥淭hrough this funding, the 天美传媒 will be able to explore new ways of improving children鈥檚 language and communication skills. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on many children鈥檚 development, so it鈥檚 more important than ever that schools, families and speech and language therapists come together to provide innovative support.鈥�

Professor David Torgerson, Director of the at the 天美传媒 of York, commented: 鈥淭his study builds upon a successful pilot trial and the team have expertise from a number of studies among children and we are looking forward to working with colleagues to deliver a successful evaluation.鈥�

Professor Andrew Church, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research & Innovation at the 天美传媒, added: 鈥淲e are delighted with this substantial funding from NIHR to undertake research addressing social inequalities for which the 天美传媒 has a strong local and international听reputation.鈥�

A full report of findings from E-PLAYS-2 will be available in August 2025. Follow and on Twitter for updates and news relating to the project and its progress.

Details about research and PhD opportunities with the 天美传媒鈥檚 Institute for Health Research can be found online: