Primary education support pack
Ten units providing teaching strategies for different curriculum areas, learning skills and social skills.
Support literacy and numeracy using recommended approaches
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Key areas students may need support’
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Use recommended reading activities
Use recommended reading activities
Examples of recommended activities to support reading for students with Down syndrome.
- Make short phrases of 2–3 words using previously-learned words. Select words that will have high interest for the student.
- Create sentence strips or Velcro-backed cards. Students can copy a sentence structure to make their own sentences in response to an image.
- Create books with students based on the sight words and sentences they are learning. Give students frequent opportunities to read them.
- Play games using sight words; practise in relevant settings.
- Emphasise and provide practice reading connecting words – for example, “and”, “or” and “but”.
- Use repetitive sentence patterns to help match words to pictures, sequence, predict and expand on their sight words – for example, “I like …”.
Adopt practical hands-on approaches
Adopt practical hands-on approaches
Strategies and practical ideas to support beginning readers with Down syndrome.
Video hosted on Youtube
http://youtu.be/oW_sExZjGEs
No captions or transcript
Build phonics skills
Build phonics skills
Activities to support the development of phonics skills and reading fluency.
Video hosted on Youtube
http://youtu.be/4xabdeH340w
No captions or transcript
Build auditory memory
Build auditory memory
Reading strategies for building auditory memory and sound discrimination for students with Down syndrome.
Video hosted on Youtube
http://youtu.be/unKKz2Fe5hc
No captions or transcript
Take a multi-sensory to teaching numeracy
Take a multi-sensory to teaching numeracy
Allow students to develop concepts using all their senses.
Connect activities to real life whenever possible.
- Use concrete materials and hands-on activities.
- Maximise the use of visuals and support learning with visual materials, cues and supports where possible.
- Break tasks into small component steps and provide lots of practice and reinforcement.
- Find extra activities to practise and consolidate skills in a range of contexts.
- Revisit and consolidate previously-learned skills before introducing new material that builds on them.
- Relate mathematics to daily living skills wherever possible.
- Use simple language – explicitly teach the language of mathematics alongside the concepts.
- Use app games for skills practice – they increase motivation and allow intensive repetition of skills.
Useful resources
Useful resources
Secondary education support pack
Twelve units focusing on different curriculum areas, learning skills, and social skills.
Publisher: Down's Syndrome Association
Reading (Downs Syndrome Family Network)
A teacher‑oriented PDF packed with phonics tips (onsets/rimes, letter–sound matching), sight words, visual sorting, and using software and sign to support reading development.
Publisher: Down Syndrome International
Number skills development
A playful, visual guide full of activities and structured steps to build early number concepts. Great for pre‑school to early school numeracy. Offers games, songs, visual supports, and clear links to key skills.
Download PDF
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Key areas to support”:
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Guide to Index of the guide: Down syndrome and learning
Understand:
Strategies for action:
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Identify needs and how to provide supportShow suggestions for Identify needs and how to provide support
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Key areas to supportShow suggestions for Key areas to support
- Support communication
- Support literacy and numeracy
- Support thinking
- Support interaction and positive behaviour
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Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8
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Helpful classroom strategies years 9-13Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies years 9-13
