Tips for smooth schooling if your child has ADHD

October is ADHD Awareness Month. If your child is one of the 5% of children diagnosed with ADHD and is struggling with the return to school, experts at The Good Schools Guide have this advice:

 Identification is the first step in providing the support that is required, so act on your instincts if your child’s functioning is being affected by their attention difficulties, by talking to your Senco.

 Work collaboratively, so the child is not getting mixed messages from home and school

 Continue to monitor and review their progress with concentration by setting achievable targets. Note down patterns in progress, e.g. is it a seasonal difficulty? Does it only occur in certain lessons?

 Try to work out the times in the day or situations when they work most productively and ensure that a task begins and ends with an activity that they enjoy.

 Support your child’s school work at home with strategies for completing homework, help sitting down to start a piece of work, and revision for tests and exams.

 Strategies to help with organisation are vital, e.g. checklists for equipment and PE kit, timetables and visual reminders, e.g. a note on the front door, ‘Have you remembered...?’. Reward success at self-organisation, ‘Well done! You remembered your reading book!’

 Bolster and maintain your child’s self-esteem, to help the ‘whole child’ develop.

 Regulate internet use, gaming and electronic communication sensitively.

 Consider involving the school’s counsellor, ELSA or school nurse if their mental health is affected, e.g. a child becomes anxious about going to school, as in some cases they may not want to talk to teachers or parents.

 Don’t rule out the option of medication to support attention skills or sleep. A medical professional can advise on this.

The Good Schools Guide website provides realms of expert advice on all aspects of education to help parents choose the best school for their child, whatever their learning style.