Supporting children and young people with Down Syndrome

Available Down Syndrome training and courses.

We want all children and young people in Essex schools with Down syndrome to have high-quality social and learning opportunities so they can maximise their potential as individuals.

This course is designed to enable all Essex schools to:

  • have an up-to-date understanding of Down syndrome and its associated profile of strengths, differences and comorbidities
  • be familiar with research-based strategies and interventions known to have maximum impact on the learning and progress of a young person with Down syndrome
  • ensure settings and schools have effective inclusion strategies in place so a young person with high needs is understood by the learning community and included at all levels
  • ensure settings and schools have effective systems for monitoring progress when this may be in smaller/slower steps and therefore more difficult to measure

The package includes a small amount of pre-reading which will be emailed in advance to those who book onto the training then either:

For those working with children aged 0 to 7 years

One session which includes information, strategy and resource sharing and time for discussion.

This session is for the SENCO and key worker if the child is in a pre-school provision and for the class teacher and a key worker if the pupil is in key stage 1.

For those working with children aged 7 years and above

Two sessions which include information, strategy and resource sharing and time for discussion.

These sessions are for the class teacher and a key worker if the pupil is in key stage 2, 3 or 4. It’s important to attend both sessions.

Both staff members (as previously described) will need to join each session so there’s an opportunity for discussion and effective planning around the individual you support.

We are unable to offer course places to just 1 of the staff members working with the pupil.

In the spring and summer terms, we hope to run a workshop session. Previous themes have included sharing good practice and transition.

Venue

This course will be run virtually. Details of how to join the online training will be emailed to participants a few days prior to each training session.

Dates and times

Spring 2024 - TBC Summer 2024 - TBC

Cost

Free for Essex LA schools and settings. A charge applies to other schools and settings.

Book a place

To book contact one of the relevant quadrant inclusion partners with the names of the 2 course participants for your school or setting:

Booking closes 7 working days before the course starts.​