'Essentials' Track - Early Years (Birth-5 Years)
Down Syndrome Education Conferences
We are working on further dates and venues for 2011. Please check back
regularly for updates.
BOOKING ENQUIRY LINES
UK and rest of world (outside USA):
tel: +44 (0)1323 637718 • fax: +44 (0)1323 637777 • email:
downsed@confpeople.co.uk (open 9am-5pm UK time)
USA conferences:
tel: +1 (949) 757-1877 • fax: +1 (949) 757-1877 • email:
conferences@downsedusa.org (open 9am-3pm US Pacific Time)
This one-day 'Essentials' track provides an overview of the issues relevant
to children with Down syndrome from birth to 5 years of age and illustrates effective
ways to support development at home and in early years education settings. This
'Essentials' track is particularly suitable for families.
Clear information and guidance
Through this 'Essentials' track, delegates learn about:
- the latest relevant research findings that indicate effective ways to help young
children with Down syndrome learn during their early years (birth to 5 years)
- how we can use this research evidence to develop practical methods and activities
to promote their education and development
In the last 15 years, scientific research has demonstrated that young children with
Down syndrome usually have a particular pattern of learning strengths and weaknesses,
and that teaching and therapy approaches are more effective when designed using
this information.
The keynote presentations illustrate how this research information provides guiding
principles for effective therapy and education approaches in each area of development
and education from birth to 5 years. The workshop sessions provide information about
practical methods and activities to be applied in the home and in early years education
settings.
We have designed the content of this track to take account of the wide range of
abilities present in children with Down syndrome from birth to 5 years - i.e.,
both age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate guidance is provided.
Each presentation also provides delegates with a guide to further reading and useful
resources.
Content
Session summaries
Delegates on this track attend all of the following keynote and breakout sessions:
Keynote sessions
- How can we best help our children and young people to achieve their potential?
- What does research tell us about their strengths, challenges and learning needs?
- How can we use this information to improve their speech, language, academic and
social progress?
- Are adapted teaching methods based on this information effective?
- Looking forward - how do we support full inclusion and meaningful lives?
- Planning for full and meaningful lives.
- The world of school and community - how to encourage friendships and social inclusion
in school and in the community.
- The role of inclusive education.
- Preparing for adult independence.
- How to identify demands and to take care of the whole family now and in future years.
Breakout sessions
- Developing speech, language and communication skills
- How do speech, language and communication skills develop?
- How to recognise key stages in progress.
- Practical activities to encourage communication through responsive strategies.
- Activities to teach vocabulary and grammar.
- Activities to encourage clear speech from infancy through preschool years.
- Supporting social-emotional development and managing behaviour
- The importance of early social/emotional development and how it links to communication
and cognitive development.
- An outline of practical principles to encourage self-regulation and settled daily
routines.
- Practical ways to encourage 'good' behaviour and change 'difficult' behaviours.
- The importance of brothers, sisters and friends.
- Developing literacy skills
- How do literacy skills develop?
- How to use early reading activities to teach words and first sentences.
- Developing play, number and cognitive skills
- How children learn through play and ways to support play.
- How number skills develop and activities to teach early counting and understanding
of number.
- Ways to encourage problem solving and teach early cognitive concepts through play
and learning games.
Please note: Down Syndrome Education International reserves the right to alter this
planned programme and the content of each session, if necessary, in order to provide
the best possible service to conference delegates.
Feedback
Read and watch feedback from professionals and families
who have attended our Education Conferences.
"truly inspirational and positive"..."well presented and organised"..."fantastic"
feedback on our conferences...
Further information