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Children, Families & Education

Education and lifelong learning

We expect every child who has Down’s syndrome to receive an equitable education with the support that both they and their families are entitled to in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Children, young people and adults everywhere have a right to an inclusive, equitable quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning in line with Article 24 (Education) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD, United Nations, 2006) and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4 – Education) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (United Nations, 2015).

Learning is a lifelong activity which means that education starts before the age of formal schooling and continues after formal education at schools and colleges.

Education offers learning opportunities for growth and development in every area, including social development, academic skills including literacy, numeracy, with broad learning opportunities to enable learners to discover their interests, talents and joys, and to support progression to careers of their choosing.

Early development

Your child will develop through enjoyable opportunities for interacting, moving and playing in their first years of life.

As they get older they will continue to progress in all areas, helped by early intervention, by having their hearing and any other health needs met and, later, by being educated at school.

Early Intervention Services and Family Support

All families should receive early intervention services to help guide their child’s development. Although children’s needs vary, families should expect to engage with speech and language therapy, pre-school advisory and physical therapy (physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy) services during their children’s early years.

Early intervention services, therapies and other early support services are explained under each local authority’s Local Offer. A Local Offer gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families information about what support services the local authority think will be available in their local area. Every local authority is responsible for writing a Local Offer and making sure it is available for everyone to see. You can search for your Local Offer online.

Growing up with Down’s syndrome

We are delighted to share 12 films made by Movimento Down, Brazil, which show activities for babies and toddlers guided by physiotherapist Alexandra Wakahara.

The short films describe activities and supports for children from birth to 3 months, 6 to 9 months, 9 to 12 months and for children older than 12 months.

Alice, Victor, Lunna and Lorena demonstrate the activities, beautifully.

We have supported the video’s translation into English so that even more people can watch the films.

We recommend parents discuss any of the activities shown with their child’s physiotherapist before undertaking them, so they know they are right for their child.

The tutorials are designed for children in four different age ranges:

  • 0-3 months (Tutorial 1 and Tutorial 2)
  • 6-9 months (Tutorial 5, Tutorial 6 and Tutorial 8)
  • 9-12 months (Tutorial 3, Tutorial 4 and Tutorial 7)
  • over 12 months (Tutorial 9, Tutorial 10, Tutorial 11 and Tutorial 12)

Education

Appropriate education is vital to help children and young people who have Down’s syndrome achieve their potential.

We have information and resources to help families and schools.

International Guidelines for the Education of Learners with Down Syndrome

Published in 2020, the Educational Guidelines document sets out exactly what teachers and institutions should be doing to improve the availability and quality of education for learners who have Down’s syndrome.

The document is the culmination of best practice and learning over the last 30 years, and has been put into one document by Down Syndrome International (DSi). 

Read more about our involvement in the creation of the Educational Guidelines here.

Our information factsheets are split across the different stages of education. Each provides a brief guide to education, from early years to FE, and include links to useful resources and further information.

You will also find links, below, to our series of education right factsheets.

Education factsheets

Education rights factsheets

SEN Magazine articles

Training

We run a range of online courses that would be of value and interest to parents and carers, teachers and support staff. Subjects covered include:

 

  • Supporting Early development from birth to 4 years
  • Early Years and Primary Education
  • Supporting Behaviour from 3 to 11 years
  • Puberty & Adolescence
  • Secondary Education
  • Supporting Behaviour 12 to 25 years

DSA Celebrating Success publications

Examples of school inclusion for pupils who have Down’s syndrome

Listen To Me: Childhood Communication

What Is Down’s Syndrome?

For Children, Primary Schools & Clubs

What Is Down’s Syndrome?

For Young People, Schools, Colleges & Clubs

Our Voice interview with Sarah Geiger

What works to support children and young people who have Down’s syndrome

Sam and Zoe interviewed Sarah about her education research.

 

Learning at home

Education project

During 2022, we worked with Down Syndrome International (DSi) and Down’s Syndrome Scotland to run a UK-wide research and advocacy project on ‘Inclusive Education’, looking at factors such as its definition and implementation.

From this project, we have identified many areas where knowledge can be shared to support the education and inclusion of learners who have Down’s Syndrome.

We built on the original project and the DSi Education Guidelines to both highlight existing resources and to develop new resources to support teachers, SENCOs, school leaders and people who have Down’s Syndrome and their families.

We hope that this Education Project content is one that you will bookmark and return to time and time again for the latest resources and information about education from the Down’s Syndrome Association.

Promotional image for the DSA Lottery

Over 15 weeks we introduced an important topic per week relating to the education and inclusion of learners who have Down’s Syndrome.

These topics have been chosen based on responses to the Inclusive Education project undertaken in 2022, the most frequently asked questions on our Helpline, and the topics that members of Our Voice think are important for us to share.

Each week we published a range of links to resources including top tips, videos to watch, links to resources on the Down’s Syndrome Association website, plus collaborations with other organisations with whom we work. See the buttons above for each of the topics.

Transition and independence

As your son or daughter enters their teenage years, you will want to start planning with them for adult life. This certainly isn’t a one off event – you will need to revisit your plans as the young person gets older and circumstances change.

As well as informal planning and preparing for adulthood, there are also certain points when you will need to engage in a more formal planning process.

You’ll find factsheets, below, that outline the process as well as tools to help you and your son or daughter think about the future. 

We also include detailed guidance about what the law says about making decisions aged 16 and over.

Who decides? Decision making from 16 years old

In this video, Stuart Mills (one of our Information Officers) will give you an overview of the changes that you might encounter around decision making when your child turns 16.

Social care

Our Social Care and Support factsheet (click the button below to download) is a quick guide to social care for children in England.

Further Info & Advice

If you have any questions please call DSA’s Helpline (Tel: 0333 1212 300) or email using info@downs-syndrome.org.uk.