Education
All children with Down's syndrome Define Down's syndrome have some degree of learning disability Define Learning disability , mild in some, marked in others. Children need to be encouraged to develop to their full potential but not driven beyond their capabilities or put under undue pressure to achieve.
Many pre-school children benefit from early intervention - physiotherapy Define Physiotherapy , occupational therapy Define Occupational therapy , speech and language therapy and special educational help Define Special educational .
More and more children with Down's syndrome attend mainstream primary school. With the correct type and level of support many will develop academic Define Academic skills.
When children reach secondary age, the gap in development between a child with Down's syndrome and other children is likely to widen. The amount of support required in relation to supporting them in the classroom, differentiation of the curriculum and helping them to be included within the school community will have to be adapted to support that particular individuals needs. Young people should have choice and support to attend mainstream or specialised schooling as appropriate.
Many young people with Down's syndrome stay on at school until they are 18. After this, options include further education, youth training and work experience.
Down's Syndrome Scotland has staff specialising in education, who have developed materials for teachers.
Further Reading
- Down's Syndrome Scotland'sposition on Education for Children with Down's syndrome
- Download PDF [32kb]
Related Websites
- Down Syndrome Educational Trust/Sarah Duffen Centre
- www.downsed.org
- Inclusive Solutions
- www.inclusive-solutions.com
- Learning and Teaching Scotland
- www.ltscotland.org.uk
- Priorywoods School
- www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk
- Renfrewshire Education Additional Support Needs Forum
- www.renfrewshireeducationasnforum.org