Preterm birth: Information for education and healthcare professionals

This e-learning resource provides evidence-based information about the long term developmental and educational outcomes of children born preterm. It is designed to improve knowledge of the outcomes of preterm birth and to help parents and professionals support preterm born children in education, including early years settings, primary and secondary schools. Although designed primarily for use by education professionals, the resource is widely used by parents of premature children and healthcare professionals to better understand the needs of children born preterm. The resource is divided in to five sections, for which the learning outcomes are as follows:

1.What is preterm birth?

• • Learning outcomes:
    • To define preterm birth
    • To understand that the more preterm a baby is born, the greater the risk of developmental problems later in life

2.Educational outcomes following preterm birth

1. • Learning outcomes:
     • To understand that children born preterm are at risk of special educational needs and poor academic attainment
     • To identify which school subjects children born preterm are most likely to struggle with

3. Cognitive and motor development following preterm birth

• • Learning outcomes:
    • To understand that children born preterm may have difficulties with IQ, processing speed, working memory, and hand-eye coordination
    • To understand how these difficulties may impact on learning

4. Behavioural, social and emotional outcomes following preterm birth

• • Learning outcomes:
    • To understand that children born preterm may be withdrawn, anxious, and inattentive, and have difficulties developing relationships with their peers
    • To understand that children born preterm don’t tend to be disruptive so their needs may be overlooked in the classroom

5. How can education professionals support preterm children

• • Learning outcomes:
    • To understand what kind of strategies might be helpful for supporting children born preterm
    • To understand that preterm birth is a risk factor and an individual assessment is always necessary to provide appropriate support