Nursery World - Integration: One of us

<P> The successful integration of a child with Down's syndrome led to a centre reviewing its policies and practice. Moira Keating and Elizabeth Knight explain how it was done </P>

The successful integration of a child with Down's syndrome led to a centre reviewing its policies and practice. Moira Keating and Elizabeth Knight explain how it was done

When we heard that Christina, an 18-month-old child with Down's syndrome, was coming to Willow Under-Fives Education Centre in Islington, London, everyone was excited at the prospect of working with her. But we also recognised that it was important to outline the systems we needed to have in place as an institution.

Both the head and the teacher in the over-threes room in the centre hold a UK recognised early years teaching qualification. Most other staff hold a variety of recognised childcare qualifications, and between them there is a wealth of education and childcare experience. They have good expertise in special needs, as 30 per cent of the children are priority referrals. The centre also has input from a multi-disciplinary team within the borough.

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