'In Depth' Track - Early Years (Birth-5 Years)

This two-day 'In Depth' track provides education, daycare, nursery, social work and healthcare professionals with the information and practical advice needed to provide the most effective education, therapy, care and support for young children with Down syndrome from birth to 5 years of age. This track is also suitable for parents requiring more detailed information.

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Sharing research evidence to guide practice

This track offers up-to-date, reliable and evidence-based information for families and for professionals involved in early intervention, early years education, daycare, health and social care. Through this two day track of keynote and breakout sessions, delegates learn about -

• the latest relevant research findings that indicate effective ways to help children with Down syndrome learn during their early 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 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.

This conference track shares information from the two sets of research literature that are relevant when developing evidence-based practice for children with Down syndrome during their early years:

• the research that studies the development of all children - how they learn to talk, move, socialise, learn and read
• and the research that directly studies the development and learning of children with Down syndrome

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 preschool 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.

Recognising that the most important resource in any child's life is their family, the presentations will address the ways professionals can work in partnership with families to fully support their child's development during the early years. Professionals will find that much of the practical information and guidance offered in relation to meeting the needs of children with Down syndrome is directly relevant and transferable to their work with other children with learning, communication and language difficulties.

Each presentation provides delegates with a guide to further reading - covering both key research papers and practical references to allow delegates to extend their knowledge as they wish. This 'In Depth' Track is accredited by Down Syndrome Education International.

Please note: The 'In Depth' tracks offered may vary at different Education Conferences. Please check the details for each venue for information about available tracks.

Content

Session summaries

Delegates on this track attend all of the following keynote and workshop sessions:

Keynote sessions

Day One

1. Evidence based practice: what does research tell us about the specific language and learning needs of children and young people with Down syndrome?
   • A summary of the research findings on the specific developmental profile associated with Down syndrome.
   • Further detail on the specific speech, language and cognitive profile associated with Down syndrome.
   • Implications of this profile for planning education and therapy programmes.
   • Evidence that we can change the expected profile if we apply this knowledge.
2. What does research tell us about teaching children and young people with Down syndrome to read?
   • What levels of achievement can we expect?
   • What are the most effective teaching approaches?
   • What are the potential benefits for speech, language and memory?

Day Two

3. Evidence for the benefits of inclusion in education and the keys to success.
   • What is inclusive practice in education?
   • What does research tell us about the benefits?
   • What does a school need to do to develop successful inclusive practice?
4. 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

Day One

1. Developing language and communication skills
   • A brief overview of how language and communication skills develop and how to recognise key stages in progress.
   • Practical activities to encourage communication through responsive strategies.
   • Activities to teach vocabulary.
2. Speech and verbal memory skills
   • A brief overview of speech and verbal short-term memory development and the links between them.
   • Games and activities to develop listening, speech discrimination, speech and verbal memory skills.
3. Developing early reading skills
   • How to use early reading activities to teach words and first sentences.

Day Two

4. Supporting social development and behaviour
   • A brief overview 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.
5.  Developing motor and self help skills
   • What do we know about motor development for children with Down syndrome?
   • How can we encourage both fine and gross motor skills?
   • How can we encourage independence in self-care - mealtimes, washing, dressing and toilet training?
6. 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.

 

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.

 

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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...

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Further information

• Venues and Booking page
• One day 'Essentials' tracks
• Two day 'In Depth' tracks:
  • Early Years (Birth-5 Years)
  • Childhood (5-11 Years)
  • Adolescence (11-16 Years)
  • Speech and Language Professionals

• Feedback from delegates
• Hosting a conference
• Down Syndrome Education Conferences home page