If your child has Down syndrome, you may have lots of questions about what this means, what support is available, and what happens next. Every child and young person with Down syndrome is unique, with their own personality, strengths, interests and way of learning.
This page is here to help you understand what support is available in Bromley and where to go for help at different stages of your child’s life. You do not need to take everything in at once – you can come back to this information whenever you need it.
Down syndrome is a lifelong condition. Children and young people with Down syndrome often learn and develop in their own way, and many benefit from support that is tailored to their individual needs.
In Bromley, a range of health, education, and support services are available for children and young people with Down syndrome from pregnancy through childhood and into adulthood. This page brings together information about the support that can be accessed at different stages of life.
Down syndrome affects every child differently. Children and young people with Down syndrome are individuals first, with their own strengths, needs and personalities.
Some children and young people benefit from extra support with:
Children and young people with Down syndrome can have a wide range of strengths and support needs. Some need help with:
Sometimes parents or professionals may notice differences in how a child communicates or interacts socially. In some cases, this can lead to discussions about whether autism could also be present. If you have concerns, it is appropriate to talk about them with your child’s nursery, school, or the professionals involved with your child.
Children and young people with Down syndrome need regular health checks as they grow, so that any health needs are identified early and the right support is put in place.
Health checks can include:
Emotional wellbeing is just as important. Friendships, feeling included, mental health and support for the whole family should all be part of ongoing discussions and planning.
Support in Bromley is available at different stages of a child or young person’s life, including:
The aim is to help families get the right support at the right time, so children and young people are healthy, included, listened to, safe, and supported to prepare for the future.
If screening during pregnancy suggests your baby may have Down syndrome, you should be offered clear information, time to talk things through, and support to help you understand your options. With your consent, you can be connected with support organisations such as Positive About Down Syndrome (PADS) and the Bromley Down Syndrome Support Group.
If Down syndrome is confirmed, support should be offered in a sensitive and supportive way. This can include:
Care before and after birth should be positive, supportive and non-directive.
In your child’s first year, you will usually be supported by a Health Visitor who stays in regular contact with you. Your child should have regular checks for growth, hearing, vision, feeding, sleep and other identified health needs.
Some babies are referred for physiotherapy or speech and language support where this is needed. Your Health Visitor should continue to keep in touch with you until any extra support your child needs is in place.
The early years are an important time for building communication, play, movement and independence. Children should have regular reviews at around 1, 2, 3 and 4 years.
These reviews give you a chance to talk about your child’s health, development and progress, and to raise any questions or concerns you may have.
At early years reviews, you can talk about:
Families should also be told about practical support, including benefits such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA), where appropriate.
Depending on your child’s needs, early support can include:
Early years settings should be ready to support children with Down syndrome to take part, learn and build independence. Some children may need a high level of support to help them fully access a mainstream nursery or pre-school.
Settings may be able to apply for SEN Inclusion Funding (SENIF) to help provide extra support. Staff may also benefit from training about Down syndrome, positive behaviour approaches and Makaton. Good day-to-day communication between home and the setting is especially important.
At primary school age, support continues to focus on your child’s health, learning, communication, inclusion and independence. Reviews should look at how your child is getting on at school and at home, including friendships, behaviour, self-care skills and any therapy support they may need.
Good support starts with planning ahead so that the right help is in place before your child starts school. Teachers, the SENCO and support staff should understand how children with Down syndrome learn and what approaches can help.
Support can include:
Support should build on your child’s strengths as well as meeting their needs.
As children get older, support should continue to focus on communication, health, friendships, independence and preparing for adult life. Moving into secondary school and post-16 education can be a big step, so planning ahead is important.
From around age 14 onwards, reviews should begin to include planning for adulthood and any future support from adult services.
Many young people with Down syndrome will continue to need:
Young people should also be supported with age-appropriate learning about growing up, relationships and personal care, where needed.
Find out more about studying, training and employment on the Preparing for adulthood pages.
If you have concerns about your child’s learning, development, wellbeing, or support needs, arrange a meeting with the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). You can ask about:
Keep the conversation positive and collaborative. Working together with the school can help ensure your child’s needs are understood and supported.
It can also be helpful to keep detailed notes of all interactions with the school, including emails, phone calls, meeting notes, reports, assessments, and details of any support that has been discussed or agreed.
From age 14 onwards, young people with Down syndrome should have regular health support, including a yearly health check with their GP or primary care team. A Health Action Plan can help set out health needs, appointments and support clearly.
Regular health checks in adulthood are important so that any concerns can be picked up and looked into early. These checks can include:
Health concerns should always be taken seriously and not put down simply to Down syndrome. The wellbeing of carers and family members is important too.
Families know their child best. Support works best when it is personalised, joined up, and based on professionals listening to families and working together across home, education and health services.
Helpful ways to support your child at home can include:
You may find the following support helpful:
