The information below may be suitable for primary and/or secondary pupils according to age, stage and individual needs.
Websites
Supporting children with Cognition and Learning needs
- Educators and professionals - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives offers information on how children develop their speech, language, and communication skills at different rates.
- Words for Life | National Literacy Trust offers activities designed to help parents support their child’s language development.
Supporting children with Down Syndrome
- downs-syndrome.org.uk/ supports all people who have Down syndrome, their parents and carers and the professionals who work with them, throughout their lives.
- Down Syndrome Education provide evidence-based resources around the world that help families and professionals to provide effective teaching approaches and interventions
- Down Syndrome – Children’s Integrated Therapies provides resources for families and practitioners to access additional support in meeting the needs of a child with Down syndrome.
- Down Syndrome (NHS) Advice and Guidance a source of information from the NHS on Down Syndrome for families and practitioners
Self-help resources
Resources for supporting children with Cognition and Learning needs
- Development Journal for Children with Multiple Needs supports families and practitioners to track progress in children with multiple learning needs.
Resources for supporting children with Down Syndrome
- SENSS DSCN Down Syndrome good practice checklist
- SENSS DSCN complex needs good practice checklist (docx format, 48KB)
- SENSS DSCN Information Sheet DS Learning Profile (docx format, 77KB)
- Information to share with children about Down Syndrome (pdf format, 1.1Mb) is a resource that provides information for children about Down Syndrome
Training
Moderate learning difficulties
- Moderate learning difficulties - in-school CPD and as an OXSIT training course. Email OXSIT@Oxfordshire.gov.uk if interested in booking training.
- Executive Function, Working memory and cognitive load education services or email OXSIT@Oxfordshire.gov.uk
- Clicker 8 education services
- Using Assistive technology to support with Reading Writing and Organisation (using Chromebooks or Windows) education services
- Free Online SEND CPD units Online CPD Units | Whole School SEND
Cognition and Learning
- Unit 14: Understanding executive functioning
- Unit 15: Memory for learning
- Unit 16: Supporting reading and comprehension
- Unit 17: Developing maths skills
Down syndrome and complex needs
- Online drop-In sessions are an opportunity to discuss individual pupils with the Down syndrome and complex needs team on a no names basis and will be available monthly. Book a 20-minute slot via the website.
- ‘Supporting pupils with Down syndrome and complex needs’ training is available every half term. Access training through education services.
Specialist support in school
Educational psychology service
- Bespoke training for schools and settings
- Joint problem-solving/psychological consultation around a specific case or issue
- Whole class /whole school interventions
Find out more about what is available Educational Psychology Service.
Down syndrome and complex needs team (SENSS)
Additional support is provided by the Special Educational Needs Support Service (SENSS).
- Online drop-in sessions are an opportunity to discuss individual pupils with the DSCN advisory team on a no-name basis and will be available monthly. Book a 20-minute slot via the website.
- Free online training ‘Supporting pupils with Down’s syndrome and complex needs’ will run every half term. Access training through education services. Attendance at the training is necessary before a referral can be made.
- Use the good practice checklist (in resources above) to get lots of ideas for implementing good practice. This will help you decide if further support from SENSS DSCN is required.
- If SENSS DSCN support is required, email SENSS with the completed good practice checklist to SENSS senss@oxfordshire.gov.uk
- A DSCN advisory teacher will arrange a virtual Teams meeting with the SENDCO and class teacher to discuss the referral.
Children’s Integrated Therapies in Oxfordshire include:
The Occupational Therapy service helps children participate in everyday life and become as independent as practically possible at school and at home. The service provides assessments, advice, activity programmes and therapy for children with a range of physical or developmental conditions that affect their daily life.