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The Hexagon: An Exploration Tool
The Hexagon can be used as a planning tool to guide selection and evaluate potential programs and practice for use.
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Core Components
EasyPeasy is a universal parenting programme in the format of a digital application (app) designed to help parents with weekly text (SMS) messaging which includes game ideas, video links, tips and information, to encourage their child to learn through play in the home setting. The app, through play, aims to improve positive parent-child interactions, language development, cognitive self-regulation, school readiness and increase parent confidence.
Core features of the app include personalised text (SMS) messaging to parents ; a bank of over 65 games aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage in England - each supported by short introductory video clips and written instructions; parent and practitioner dashboards and a communication platform for practitioners to engage and exchange with parents to increase parental engagement, capture analytics and track individual progress against learning goals. The app has been designed to integrate with local early years settings such as children’s centres, primary schools and nurseries where the programme can also be delivered, integrating and strengthening learning in the home with learning in the community.
Delivery of EasyPeasy is led by one Pod Leader over a 20-week period to parents with children aged between 2-5 years. Practitioners are able to invite their whole early years provision from 2-5 years. This universal provision is important to reduce stigma and to enable more confident parents to share ideas and engage less confident parents - supporting engagement at a whole provision level. EasyPeasy is clearly operationalised with a comprehensive structured Pod Leader Start Pack that details the six stages required for replication of the intervention. Core features of EasyPeasy are also clearly visible on the mobile phone web-app for parents and the desktop practitioner dashboard.
Fidelity
To support programme fidelity EasyPeasy provides (1) a locked down application (2) a centrally controlled library of game ideas (3) standardised practitioner (Pod Leader) training (4) agency organisational supports including practitioner manuals and toolkits (5) guidance in evaluating the effectiveness and quality of support from practitioners to parents and levels of parental engagement. Support for practitioners to effectively implement the programme with fidelity is available on request from the EasyPeasy Community Manager or Zendesk via email, website or through the app at no additional cost. A fidelity monitoring framework is not available.
Modifiable Components
Adaptations of this universal programme recommended in the ‘Optional Implementation Guide’ to supplement the core digital platform and meet the needs of individual communities are:
1. Introduction of EasyPeasy to Early Years teams during a staff meeting.
EasyPeasy is available in English only however videos are used to model games visually for non-english speaking users. Written instructions have been designed in a simple and clear format to ensure suitability and easy understanding for parents and children with low levels of English.
Support for Organisation / Practice
EasyPeasy was developed by parents for parents. The EasyPeasy Office is based in London where support for implementing agencies is provided.
Implementation Support
EasyPeasy provides agencies with a range of implementation supports, materials and toolkits including (1) a Pod Leader Starter Pack (2) a Social Media Kit (3) Presentation and Introduction Materials for Parents (4) Portfolio of EasyPeasy Promotional Posters and Flyers and (5) a user friendly Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions.
The Pod Leader Starter pack includes a ‘Core’ implementation guide; an ‘Optional/Adaptations’ implementation guide and Engagement Tips to assist leaders with implementation.
The core implementation requirements for practitioners include 6 core steps. The first 3 steps include Pod Leader registration, establishing individual dashboards, creating pod/s, and familiarisation with content and games – it is anticipated that these activities combined require 40 minutes of practitioner commitment. The last 3 steps require a launch to parents referred to as ‘splash’, registration of interested parents followed by activation for parents who then go on to receive their ‘invite’ text message notification – it is anticipated these activities combined require 90 minutes of practitioner commitment.
Support is available to practitioners during implementation and throughout their journey via the EasyPeasy Community Manager. A helpdesk is also available for practitioners which is a platform that manages all EasyPeasy Community queries which can be accessed by email, website or via the EasyPeasy web app.
Data management plans are the responsibility of the implementing agencies who are considered the Data Controller. Implementing sites are encouraged to ensure compliance with local Data Protection policies and data management plans.
Licence Requirements
A license is not required to deliver EasyPeasy.
Start-up Costs
An annual subscription to enrol with EasyPeasy is required per family and can be purchased through the EasyPeasy website by either Early Years Services, in order that they can provide access free for their parent population, or purchased directly by parents who are not registered with an Early Years Service. The annual subscription cost is £9.99 per family which is time limited as EasyPeasy move towards a monthly recurring subscription package.
Building Staff Competency
Qualifications Required
To become an EasyPeasy Practitioner (Pod Leader) experience as an Early Years Practitioner is necessary however no formal qualifications are required. An EasyPeasy Pod Leader will typically be a senior practitioner within the Early Years Team who has established relationships with families.
Training Requirements
Practitioner training is recommended and is offered as a free one-hour online webinar training presentation led by the EasyPeasy team, prompts and guidance also weave throughout the dashboard set up. The training focuses on introducing Pod Leaders to the dashboard, introducing the games and user commenting feature, practical elements such as adding parents to a Pod and how to maximise parental engagement.
Supervision Requirements
Supervision or coaching is not available and is not a requirement to deliver EasyPeasy.
Theory of Change
EasyPeasy is grounded in the theory that during the early years, children learn through playing and interacting with the people and environments around them. The more opportunities that children have to communicate, interact, and experiment the more they will thrive and develop important skills from speaking and listening, focusing attention and managing emotions, to building determination and confidence.
By playing games and receiving prompts parents increase the quality and quantity of interactions with their children, which positively impacts children's cognitive self-regulation. Children with well-developed cognitive self-regulation are more able to concentrate, persist with difficult tasks and work independently. These capabilities strongly underpin children’s ability to learn and attain at school, as expressed in their Good Level of Development (GLD), England’s statutory assessment of children’s development at the end of reception.
The primary and secondary intended outcomes for EasyPeasy are to (1) increase child cognitive self-regulation and increased parent confidence and (2) to increase the percentage of children achieving GLD at the end of reception.
Infants and Toddlers: 0-36 months - Rating: 4+
Research Design & Number of Studies
One RCT was identified (Jelley, F. et al 2016) which was undertaken in collaboration with the programme developer. Evidence for the 0-36 months age range is included within the broader sample, specific data for this age range is not given. This study included children aged between 2.4 - 6 years.
Outcomes Achieved
Statistically significant differences between the intervention and control group were found in measures of:
Child Outcomes
Child cognitive self-regulation (persistence and concentration) (Jelley, F. et al 2016).
Parent Outcomes
Parents’ self-efficacy regarding discipline and boundaries (Jelley, F. et al 2016).
Key References
Jelley, F., Sylva, K., & Karemaker, A. (2016). EasyPeasy parenting app – Findings from and efficacy trial on parent engagement and school readiness skills. Sutton Trust, Esmee Fairbairn, University of Oxford, Easy Peasy.
Preschool: 3 to 5 years - Rating: 4
Research Design & Number of Studies
The best evidence for the EasyPeasy Programme for children aged 3-5 years comes from one RCT (Jelley, F. et al 2016) and 1 mixed method evaluation study (Hilders, A. et al 2019) both were conducted in collaboration with the programme developer. The RCT included children (n=150 families) from age 2.4-6 years, outcomes in this study for the age range 3-5 years is the same as for the 0-36 months evidence above (Jelley, F. et al 2016). The mixed method evaluation study (n=151) (Hilders, A. et al 2019) included children between the ages of 4-5 years reporting the following outcomes:
Child Outcomes
Significant increase in all three self-regulation measures (cognitive, emotional and behavioural self-regulation) and two social behavioural measures (sociability and pro-social behaviour). (Hilders, A. et al 2019)
Compared to a control group, the intervention group showed a significant increase on scores of 5 measures of development (Communication and Language; Physical Development; Personal, Social & Emotional Development (PSE); Literacy; and Mathematics). (Hilders, A. et al 2019).
Key References
Jelley, F., Sylva, K., & Karemaker, A. (2016). EasyPeasy parenting app – Findings from and efficacy trial on parent engagement and school readiness skills. Sutton Trust, Esmee Fairbairn, University of Oxford, Easy Peasy.
Hilders, A., Sylva, K., Jelley, F. (2019). Easy Peasy ‘Parent App’ Findings from a Study of Children’s Self-Regulation and Social-Behavioural Development. Department of Education, University of Oxford, EasyPeasy, Oxfordshire County Council.
Need
Comparable Population
EasyPeasy is designed as a universal programme for parents with children between the ages of 2-5 years across a diverse range of communities and culture.
Evidence of EasyPeasy’s effectiveness includes families with children with special needs and disabilities, who have poor educational attainment levels from low socio-economic backgrounds in the age ranges of 4-5 years and 2.6-6 years.
Evidence of EasyPeasy’s effectiveness includes families with children from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the age range of 2.4 - 6 years.
Is this comparable to the population you serve? Does your organisation have existing contacts with parents in this population? Are you likely to receive enough referrals for eligible families to populate a recurring programme of MTB? Desired Outcome
EasyPeasy aims to improve children’s cognitive self-regulation, parental confidence in playing at home whilst increasing the percentage of children achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) at the end of reception.
Research has identified that EasyPeasy improved children’s cognitive self-regulation and parent’s confidence and self-efficacy regarding discipline and boundaries across identified populations. Some elements of language and communication were also improved.
Are improvements in child development, learning and parental confidence priority outcomes for your organisation? Do you have other existing initiatives that would be supportive of addressing this need and achieving these outcomes?
Need Score
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Fit
Values
EasyPeasy recognises that there can be barriers for parents that get in the way (time poor, low education, stress levels) of getting the best for their child and believe that by supporting parents to feel more confident about bringing playful, developmental interactions into the home, a nurturing home learning environment for children to develop will more likely be provided which the app has been developed to support.
Does promoting positive playful relationship between parents and children to support early child development align with the key values of your service/organisation? Priorities
EasyPeasy’s mission is to support every child to get the best start in life, no matter their background. EasyPeasy aims to increase societal awareness about the importance of play in the crucial early years to support children’s development and learning and parental wellbeing.
Is working with parents & children to raise awareness of the importance of play in the early years in support of child development & parental wellbeing a current priority for your organisation?
Existing Initiatives
Does your service already provide early intervention programmes aiming to improve child development and mental health outcomes? Does your area have practitioners trained in delivering the EasyPeasy Programme? Do you have links with CAMHS, Adult Mental Health Services and Child Protection Services to refer onto if required?
Fit Score
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Capacity
Workforce
To deliver EasyPeasy requires as a minimum of one Pod Leader to recruit parents and to co-ordinate and promote the programme to parents. In addition to the 1-hour training programme and 2 hours set-up time, practitioners require time to bring the games into conversations with parents to promote the benefits of home learning and for regular analysis of the in-app analytics.
Do you have enough qualified practitioners available to commit to undertake training? Do you have enough qualified practitioners available to commit to delivering the full extent of this programme? Technology Support
To deliver EasyPeasy from a technology perspective requires access to a PC and Wi-Fi. Pod Leader dashboards can also be accessed through a mobile phone or tablet.
Do you have access to adequate technology to support practitioners to effectively deliver the technological components of the programme?
Administrative Support
Administrative support is required to recruit parents including collecting parent mobile phone numbers, printing of materials and the co-ordination of launch events including space to hold these.
Do you have enough administrative capacity and systems to meet these administrative needs?
Financial Support
The financial support required to implement EasyPeasy includes the cost of an annual subscription per family of £9.99 and the cost of promotional events to recruit parents which includes space to hold the launch events.
Do you have the finances to enable practitioners to fully deliver this programme?
Capacity Score
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