EEF Innovation Project to Strengthen Self‑Regulation in the Early Years

We’re delighted to share that SIL has been selected to be part of the Education Endowment Foundation’s (EEF) latest round of Innovation Project funding. 

With a clear focus on early self‑regulation, our project highlights the pivotal role these skills play in shaping children’s learning, wellbeing and long‑term development.

What is the EEF Innovation Fund?

The fund supports the development and early‑stage testing of promising approaches that have the potential to improve outcomes for children and young people - particularly those facing disadvantage. 

Projects are selected for their evidence‑informed design, clear theory of change, and potential for scalable, system‑wide impact.

Why Our Approach Is Different?

While many self‑regulation programmes focus on discrete interventions or isolated activities, SIL’s model takes a whole‑setting approach. 

Building on our extensive experience across early years pedagogy, SEND, EAL, inclusion and workforce development, the project will ensure:

• Strategies are embedded in daily practice rather than delivered as a standalone programme.
• Practitioners are equipped with practical, research‑led tools and receive coaching and reflective support to adapt approaches to their context.
• The model is flexible and equitable. Designed to work effectively across nurseries, schools, PVI and Childminder settings and maintained provision.
• Children’s voices, experiences and cultural backgrounds are recognised as integral to the development of self‑regulation skills.

What Does it Mean for the Sector?

This project represents an exciting opportunity to develop a robust, evidence‑informed model that empowers early years practitioners to nurture children’s independence, emotional confidence and readiness for learning. 

Kim Salisbury, Early Years Education Partner Manager at SIL, said:

“We are thrilled to have been selected for the EEF Innovation Project. Self‑regulation sits at the heart of effective early years practice, and this initiative will help practitioners feel confident in the support they offer. 

By co‑designing with settings and grounding it within real‑world practice, we’re developing an approach that is both impactful and genuinely sustainable.”

Timescales

The project will run for two years.

• Spring - Summer 2026: Co‑designing and refining resources with practitioners; establishing baseline measures.
• Autumn 2026 - Spring 2027: Implementation across pilot settings with ongoing coaching and support.
• Summer 2027: Evaluation, refinement and preparation for wider dissemination.

The EEF funding will support the development of the programme, so that it can be tried out in a small number of schools.