Please find attached information on the See and Learn Programme. Down Syndrome Ireland has been working with junior and senior infant teachers in implementing the See and Learn programme in primary schools across Ireland.  The See and Learn programme has been designed to meet the specific learning needs of children with Down syndrome. It can also be helpful for other children experiencing similar learning difficulties.

Children with Down syndrome usually need more explicit instruction, together with lots of practice and rehearsal to learn and retain new skills. See and Learn Language and Reading is designed to teach children with Down syndrome early vocabulary, sight words, simple phrases and sentences, and grammar rules. Learning to read offers the children concrete and visual representations of language concepts to support the development of their spoken language skills.

The See and Learn language and reading programme contains seven kits which focus on teaching spoken language - beginning with children's earliest words and phrases, and progressing to teach further vocabulary, sentences and grammar. It also teaches reading – both to support language development and to provide a foundation for later literacy learning. It includes activities to teach children to read sight words, simple phrases and sentences, letter-sounds, phonological awareness and phonics.

See and Learn Language and Reading is designed primarily to teach language and then early reading skills - and the goals are to teach the meanings of spoken and written words and phrases. Access to this language and reading programme would ensure that classroom and special education teachers could implement a programme that has been specifically designed to meet the needs of children with Down syndrome. We hope that this programme will be included in your Resource Library to ensure that educators have access to a teaching resource that will support language and reading.

Please contact either myself, or my colleague, Olive Buckeridge (Head of Early Intervention DSI) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like  any additional information.

Fidelma Brady

Head of Education

Down Syndrome Ireland

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Unit 3 Parkway House 

Western Parkway Business Park

Ballymount Drive 

Dublin 12 

D12 HP70

01-5632450