Remote Early Learning Program
Empowering caregivers to facilitate structured, play-based learning at home to prepare children age 5-6 for school.
The Remote Early Learning Program is an 11-week, phone-based intervention that uses digital methods like WhatsApp group calls to empower caregivers to facilitate structured, play-based activities at home. It is an evidence-based program that supports school readiness for children age 5-6 in remote or underserved communities.
The Remote Early Learning Program aims to:
- Enhance caregivers’ understanding of early childhood development (ECD) and learning through play.
- Boost caregivers’ confidence in engaging in playful and nurturing interactions with their children.
- Empower caregivers in remote or hard-to-reach areas with tools and strategies to support learning at home.
- Prepare children for formal schooling through activities focused on literacy, pre-numeracy, physical health, and social-emotional learning.
2,458 Children Reached in Lebanon and Iraq
This is a transferrable program – initially piloted in Lebanon and then delivered in Iraq.
19.4% Improvement in Children’s Holistic Development Scores
The Remote Early Learning Program offers a cost-effective solution in hard-to-reach locations
Who we
worked with
Children age 5-6 from displaced or host communities and their caregivers
Where we
worked
Iraq, Lebanon
How we delivered content
Remote
Caregivers receive materials and instructions by phone from trained facilitators to use with their children
Intensity/Frequency
.
Structured Program
Sessions held on the phone 2-3 times per week, for 11 weeks. Activities sent by phone 3 times per week, for 11 weeks.
Program Content & Delivery
Central to the program’s approach is the empowerment of caregivers, equipping them with the tools and strategies necessary to facilitate their children’s learning and development effectively at home with limited resources. Caregivers attend remote group WhatsApp calls led by teachers trained in early childhood education (ECE). Sessions run two to three times per week for 11 weeks (33 sessions). Each session lasts between 35 to 45 minutes, offering a comprehensive timeframe for teachers to discuss, instruct, and engage with caregivers about various educational topics and strategies.
The Remote Early Learning Program relies on caregivers to implement ECE activities with children, with minimal direct teacher-child engagement. Detailed lesson plans guide the teachers through each session, and promote diverse teaching methods such as role play, story reading, singing, art and crafts, exploration and experiments, and physical activities. The 33 sessions include a total of 180 activities for caregivers to do with children at home. To support activities, facilitators share Ahlan Simsim multimedia content during and between sessions via WhatsApp, including videos, songs, pictures, and infographics. Families receive ECD home kits with learning materials to use in activities, including worksheets, storybooks, arts supplies, and stationery. Caregivers are provided with a data package to ensure they can access WhatsApp for the duration of the program. They also share WhatsApp messages and pictures showing their children doing activities, to confirm implementation and create space for caregiver discussion between sessions.
The curricula, materials and multimedia resources were designed and developed in Arabic.
Sample session script
A sample phone call script translated from Arabic.
Follow Up Phone Call Scripts
A sample follow-up phone call script translated from Arabic.
Ahlan Simsim media materials
An index of videos and songs used in each phone call.
Summary of Program Resources
A description of the home kit distributed for this program.
Training and Supervision
Teachers complete a five-day training program before program initiation. Throughout implementation, teachers participate in refresher sessions on integrating play-based learning methodologies, mastering core ECD concepts, and understanding child protection principles and standards.
Trained coaches play a vital role in mentoring teachers and ensuring program adherence. Coaches conduct weekly individual coaching sessions with each teacher, identifying areas for improvement based on remote session observations and providing tailored support. Additionally, ECD Training and Quality Managers observe sample phone calls and conduct periodic meetings with coaches to assess and discuss teachers’ performance. Teachers have access to Ahlan Simsim E-learning modules with core ECD topics that can be covered fully online and they can also download the Kadr Facilitator Application, which provides easy access to program materials and multi-media content, streamlining activity management.
Monitoring and Evaluation
A monitoring and evaluation plan was created with monitoring tools, including a caregiver survey, a session observation tool, and a remote phone-based adaptation of the International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA). Monitoring and evaluation teams routinely collect and share this data with program staff for adjustments.
Research and learning results and a sample of monitoring tools used by teachers and staff to monitor progress and implementation quality.
IRC
NYU Global TIES
Sesame Workshop
Play to Learn
