Key Topics: Promoting the development and education of children with Down syndrome from 3 to 5 years

This page provides the planned programme and session summaries for the Promoting the development and education of preschool children with Down syndrome from 3 to 5 years training course.

Introduction

This training course provides a range of keynote and a series of parallel workshops covering the wide range of issues affecting the development and education of preschool children with Down syndrome.

Each workshop aims to provide practical approaches to promoting development, presenting evidence-based strategies and techniques wherever possible.

Parallel sessions

Delegates may select from the parallel sessions to tailor the course content to best meet their needs. We recommend that organisations consider sending two members of staff so they can attend all parallel sessions to ensure full coverage of all issues raised.

Please note: delegates will receive a course booklet that will include summaries of the content of all parallel sessions, not just the ones attended.

Programme

Time Session title
9.00-9.30 Registration (tea and coffee available)
9.30-10.30 1. Welcome and Keynote: Evidence-based effective early education: the specific needs of children with Down syndrome
10.30-11.30 2a. Developing speech, language and communication skills 2b. Healthcare needs and their effects on development
11.30- 11.55 Coffee/tea break
11.55-12.55 3a. Teaching reading to teach talking 3b. Developing motor and self-help skills
12.55-1.35 Lunch
1.35- 2.35 4a. Developing memory skills 4b. Supporting social and emotional development and managing behaviour
2.35-3.00 Tea
3.00-4.00 5a. Encouraging cognitive development and number through structured teaching 5b. Preparation and planning for inclusion in early education and child-care settings
4.00-4.30 6. Key messages and final queries: Remembering the framework - children and families first

Content of each session

Keynote

1. Evidence-based effective early intervention: the specific needs of children with Down syndrome

  • A summary of the research findings on the specific social and cognitive profile associated with Down syndrome
  • The implications of this profile for planning early intervention programmes and therapies
  • Research evidence for the effectiveness of this approach for improving the speech, language and cognitive progress of children with Down syndrome

Parallel workshops

2a. Developing speech, language and communication skills

  • Understanding the speech, language and communication needs of children with Down syndrome ' what research tells us
  • Supporting speech and language development in preschool years
  • Activities for communication, speech-motor, vocabulary and sentence learning
  • Setting targets and recording progress
  • Working with the speech and language therapist

2b. Healthcare needs and their effects on development

  • The main healthcare needs associated with Down syndrome
  • How to identify them and where to find help
  • Recognising the effects of health needs and sensory impairments on development
  • What can we do to compensate for them?

3a. Teaching reading to teach talking

  • The evidence for visual learning strengths and using print to teach talking
  • When to start and how to introduce print
  • Using reading activities to continue to develop speech and language
  • see and learn materials available to support this approach

3b. Developing motor and self-help skills

  • Research into motor development - the myth of hypotonia
  • Continuing to develop fine and gross motor skills - the role of practice and experience
  • Encouraging independence - dressing, mealtimes, toileting
  • Working with the occupational and physiotherapist

4a. Developing memory skills

  • Understanding working memory and its importance for language development
  • Activities to improve memory skills

4b. Supporting social and emotional development and managing behaviour

  • Understanding social and emotional development and its links with all aspects of development
  • Encouraging social and emotional development, self-regulation, independence and self-confidence from early
  • Encouraging age-appropriate behaviour
  • Understanding the reasons for inappropriate behaviour
  • Basic strategies for changing behaviour

5a. Encouraging cognitive development through play and structured learning

  • Learning through play and through structured learning
  • Using scaffolding and errorless learning approaches
  • Encouraging exploration and social play
  • Using music and singing

5b. Preparation and planning for inclusion in early education and child-care settings

  • Developing inclusive early education settings
  • Planning and procedures that need to be in place
  • Tools to support development - CSIE Index for Inclusion
  • Planning for the individual child
  • Working in partnership with support services

Please note: Down Syndrome Education Internationalreserves the right to alter this planned programme and the content of each session, if necessary, in order to provide the best possible service to the delegates booked into any one training event.

How to book

To book a place on this training course, contact us by email or telephone.