Early Years Development Programme
12 months' access to the training, resources and ongoing support to enable a child with Down syndrome to flourish in your early years setting and promote an inclusive learning environment for all.
Down Syndrome UK’s Early Years Development Programme is a 12 month flexible, online programme created and delivered by experts in working with children with Down syndrome. Designed for SENCOs, portage, early years teachers and nursery managers, the programme equips staff with training, resources and ongoing support to effectively support children with Down syndrome. Ongoing support and a full year’s access to the programme which includes downloadable practical guidance that fits around your schedule and promotes development in your child.
With funding from...
12 months’ access to learning and support from sign-up
Why choose us?
DSUK’s Early Years Development Programme (EYDP) is designed and led by experts in their field. You’ll receive a resource package designed for early years professionals supporting children with Down syndrome. This package covers key areas including communication, behaviour, inclusion, learning and physical development. The year-long programme helps staff build confidence and deliver inclusive, developmentally-appropriate support. Includes downloadable materials, video training, and a toolkit of printed resources.
Expert-led
Practical and flexible
Cost-effective
Trusted by professionals
Ongoing support for 12 months
Fund the programme through Disability Access Funding (DAF)
Disability Access Funding (DAF) is a government fund that provides £910 per year to early years settings to support children aged two, three and four who receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA). It is intended to help settings make reasonable adjustments or provide additional resources that enable the child to access their funded early education place.
A setting could use DAF to fund access for a year to our Early Years Development Programme for staff supporting the child.
What others had to say about us...
Support your child today!
Join hundreds of early years settings benefitting from our expert-led programmes- Includes all staff
- Unlimited online access to training
- Access to a bank of resources
- Ongoing support from our experts
- Can be funded through DAF
Dr Becky Baxter
This programme is designed and led by Dr. Rebecca Baxter, Director of Education and Speech and Language Therapy at Down Syndrome UK. With over 15 years of experience working with schools and families, Becky has successfully supported hundreds of children with Down syndrome of all ages across a range of education settings. Becky has worked collaboratively with experienced professionals across areas of education and health to develop the programme ensuring school staff have access to relevant and up-to-date information from a range of experts in their field.
Our programme is rigorously grounded in the scientific understanding of the learning needs of children with Down syndrome. At the same time our services are firmly focused on practical advice designed to improve outcomes for children with Down syndrome in preschool settings.
Sarah Holton
FAQs
Our setting finds it difficult to release staff for training at certain times during the day. How can we access the training?
The training recordings, which cover a range of topics, can be viewed at any time by staff working with the child who has Down syndrome. The library of recordings, information and resources includes speech, language and communication, behaviour, learning, health, physical development and toilet training. These can all be used flexibly throughout the year of your subscription.
Do the drop-in sessions run during the day? Are they at specific times?
The live drop-in sessions take place once a month (3pm on the day of the session). They are a great opportunity to ask questions about the theme of the session or anything else you would like support with, as well as find out more about the programme and connect with other settings.
Our monthly newsletters for professionals signed up to the EYDP share details of the up-coming sessions. Dates and subject matter are also listed in the EYDP portal.
If a setting has more than one child with Down syndrome attending, is the subscription still the same price?
No – the programme is for 1 pupil with Down syndrome. We charge £75 for each additional child with Down syndrome you would like to support using the programme.
Does the Early Years Development Programme include information on speech, language and communication?
Yes, the EYDP does include a section focused on speech, language and communication. It’s a very valuable resource especially if your setting’s current SALT provision is limited. Maintaining consistency in the use of signing, visuals and spoken language between home and nursery is important.
Can we have additional copies of the printed resource pack we were sent?
Yes, the printed resources from the pack are all in the relevant sections of EYDP portal for you to print out.
Can parents use the same resources from the EYDP at home?
Yes! Settings can share whichever EYDP resources they wish with parents. Some of the resources are already available to parents via DSUK’s pants4school toilet training programme and PEGS programme for parents. All EYDP resources are downloadable from your portal so staff can easily share specific resources they are using with parents. It is important that the setting and parents communicate about what they are using to ensure consistency for the child.
We’re in Wales — is the Early Years Development Programme relevant?
Yes! While the SEN support systems may differ, families and early years settings in Wales have found the EYDP resources highly relevant and very helpful. Parents of one child told us-
“Our son attends mainstream nursery school and has been so lucky to be part of the Early Years Developemnt Programme…since attending nursery school he has come on leaps and bounds”
The child in our setting has some behaviour challenges. Does DSUK offer support and advice for this?
Whilst children with Down syndrome do have strengths in early social skills, there could also be some challenges. The EYDP includes an extensive library of recordings and accompanying resources to enable staff to support and reinforce positive behaviour, introduce visuals and teach new behaviours.
Can our setting pay by invoice rather than via the website booking page?
Yes, you can. To request an invoice, simply email education@downsyndromeuk.co.uk. We will invoice your setting and you can add colleagues to the portal as soon as the invoice is paid.
Should our setting sign up to the EYDP before a child joins us?
Early Years settings can sign up at any point in the year and will receive 12 months membership. Staff can access the online resources at any time to familiarise themselves with the programme and understand about the learning profile of children with Down syndrome before the child joins them. The programme also includes resources and guidance about successful transitions which will be invaluable as staff welcome a new pupil to their class.
Can nursery resources be shared with school before a child starts school?
We would always encourage communication between nursery and school as part of transition. Nursery and preschool settings should share information about what they have been working on with the child during the summer term to help the school prepare for the child’s arrival. At DSUK we have a Primary Education Programme that schools can sign up to in advance of the child starting school, so that they are able to begin training and familiarise themselves with resources before the child starts Reception. Similarly, we would encourage nurseries to sign up to EYDP themselves for the year the child is with them prior to starting school.