Our programmes have a positive focus on children's abilities and are formulated on methods which have had demonstrated success in other countries. The centre has a staff of 15 people who work directly with the children and families, in the following ways:

Initial Support
Home Visiting Service (birth to 2.6 years)
Adaptation group (18 months to 3 years)
Centre-based services (3-7 years)
Integrated kindergarten (4-7 years)
Family Support

> Initial Support.
Initial contact with the centre will be via our Family Support Co-ordinator. The Family Support Co-ordinator will spend time with parents to talk about the many questions which parents will have about the development of, and possibilities for their child. Parents of very young children may receive ongoing support as needed in their homes and in addition to regular visits from one of our home visit specialists.

> Home Visiting Service (birth to 2.6 years)
Families of children up to the age of two and a half years will receive regular visits in their homes from one of our specialists. The Home visit specialists are experienced in children's development in the first three years of life, and will support parents in helping their children to develop and learn. During the first visits, the specialist will discuss the baby's needs with parents and other members of the family. She will help parents to understand feeding and sleeping patterns, and the process of early development, including sensory development, smiling and social interaction, speech and language development, play and motor development. The specialist will also be able to advise on medical requirements and will work with the parents to develop a learning plan for the child. Visits will be made once every two to four weeks, depending on the individual needs of the child and family. The home visitor will be able to give helpful ideas for teaching children through play and through everyday activities so that parents can maximise the learning opportunities which occur through everyday living. With each visit, together with the parents, the specialist will evaluate the progress of the child, and make further recommendations for the development of new skills.

> Adaptation group (18 months to 3 years)
Downside Up operates an "Adaptation Group" for children between the ages of 18 months and three years. The group operates two mornings per week and has been specially designed to foster the children's transition from a home-based to centre-based environment, thus beginning the preparation for attending a more formal educational setting. It also offers parents an opportunity to get together, and to obtain specialist advice on ways to promote their child's development. The children take part in structured learning activities which the parents can then continue at home. Activities focus on early understanding of language, communication with gestures, turn taking, play and participation in group activity. Families of children over the age of 18 months who receive home visits are encouraged to participate in the adaptation group.

> Centre-based services (3-7 years)
Our centre-based services operate with a focus on socialisation and the opportunity to use specific areas of development that the children have acquired in more structured play sessions with other children. Activities build on from those of the adaptation group. They are developed for older children and are focused on learning through play. More intensive individual support is offered from the age of three years in specific areas of development, such as speech and language, fine and gross motor, and cognitive development. These lessons are scheduled according to the individual needs of the children, who then have the opportunity to consolidate their skills effectively in a naturalistic play setting. This approach is considered to be very important, especially in the development of speech and language, as instruction in non-naturalistic contexts has been found not to maintain, nor to generalise the contexts of the "real world". Group sessions are organised according to age and ability. In consultation with the parents, an individual programme is written for each child, based on specific needs and abilities. Attention is paid to fostering all areas of development, and children's recommended attendance at the centre reflects this. Our programme has a "co-ordinated approach" to children's development, whereby the staff of the centre work together and exchange information with each other and parents in order to best meet the needs of individual children. So that maximum results can be achieved for the children, regular, on time attendance at sessions is essential.

> Integrated kindergarten (4-7 years)
Downside Up supports the idea of integration, and works together with Nash Dom, a Moscow kindergarten which is attended by ten children with Down syndrome. The experienced staff at the kindergarten support a harmonious relationship between all the children who attend. Our children spend most of the time in sessions together with ordinary children, but also attend specialised individual sessions as needed. This approach is beneficial for all children - the children who have Down syndrome are provided with models of appropriate social and language behaviours; the other children have the opportunity to develop an awareness and understanding of difference, leading to acceptance in the community.

> Family Support
Downside Up regards family support as an integral part of our work, and we believe that it is necessary to ensure the success of our programmes. Bringing up a child with special needs can be difficult, and we aim to support parents throughout their children's early development. Parents of older children who attend the centre may receive support in the form of counselling, psychological support, regular parent meetings at the centre, advice about their children's development, play ideas and activities, names of other services which may be able to help, medical and legal advice and so forth. Please contact our Family Support Co-ordinator for advice.