The Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) trial, which commenced in 2015, has been formally evaluated by Deloitte Access Economics. The evaluation shows that the trial has been a success, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from educators and parents.

Key outcomes from the report are:

• The trial has been successful in meeting its stated objectives of providing language and cultural exposure to preschool children, however full assessment of longer-term learning outcomes would require a more thorough longitudinal study.
• Educators and parents were largely positive about the trial and mostly expressed a desire for the programme to continue into the future.
• There is significant scope for the programme to be increasingly cost-effective with participation and uptake by a greater number of services.

The evaluation looked at:

• Design of the ELLA trial
• Implementation of the ELLA trial
• Delivery of the ELLA trial
• Engagement with the ELLA trial
• Impact and efficiency of the ELLA trial, and
• Future considerations.