Supporting ADHD in schools: Advice to help students
ADHD affects behaviours such as hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness. This can lead to difficulties with everyday functioning and completing tasks.
As someone working in education, there are lots of things you can do to help your students with ADHD get the most out of school life.
With their natural curiosity, children and young people with ADHD have a fantastic toolkit for learning. This is why it's so important to understand their needs and make any helpful adjustments.
Most children and young people with ADHD are happiest in engaging, active environments, but long, drawn-out tasks with no breaks or opportunities to move can lead to problems.
In this guide we've outlined some general guidance to help school professionals support children and young people with ADHD. Please remember that all recommendations need to be used consistently and alongside any other treatments or recommended medications.
Table of contents
- ADHD support in schools
- What challenges may children with ADHD face?
- Classroom strategies for ADHD in schools
- How do you discipline a student with ADHD?
- What can parents do to improve learning for ADHD children?
ADHD support in schools
Children with ADHD may require additional support in educational settings to help them thrive academically and socially.
ADHD is recognised as a special education need (SEN), entitling children to receive extra help or adjustments. All adjustments should be customised to suit a child's specific needs.
Adjustments for children with ADHD could include:
- Extra time or rest breaks during exams to lessen stress and fatigue
- Movement breaks within lessons to allow children to release excess energy and maintain focus
- Clear written instructions for tasks to help with comprehension and organisation
- A seating plan designed to minimise distractions and improve learning
How many school students are affected by ADHD?
According to research from the Journal of Attention Disorders, ADHD among school students varies, with notable findings in the UK and globally.
In the UK, a survey of 10,438 children aged 5 to 15 found that approximately 3.62% of boys and 0.85% of girls had ADHD. Globally, ADHD impacts between 2% and 7% of children, with an average prevalence of 5%.
What challenges may children with ADHD face?
ADHD can present various challenges for students, all of which can be managed with the appropriate support and treatment. Without support, these challenges can have negative impacts on academic performance, emotional wellbeing and social interactions.
Emotional and social impact
Students with ADHD may experience emotional and social challenges that stem from their experience of the environment around them. They may struggle to regulate their emotions, which can lead to outbursts of frustration or anger. Having ADHD can lead to impulsivity and difficulty in understanding social cues, which can make it hard to maintain positive relationships with peers.
Feelings of isolation and rejection may worsen emotional challenges, so it's vital that teachers and caregivers create supportive and inclusive environments that support these needs.
Underachievement
Despite their potential and intelligence, students with ADHD may struggle to focus. This can make it hard for children to finish work, meet deadlines, and achieve academic goals.
Underachievement can impact self-esteem and confidence. Students may see themselves as falling short of expectations. It's crucial to provide tailored support and accommodations to help students with ADHD reach their full potential and experience success.
Low self-esteem
Low self-esteem is a common issue faced by students with ADHD. Struggling with academic challenges, social setbacks, and feelings of inadequacy can take a toll on self-worth and confidence.
Repeated experiences of failure and criticism may worsen self-esteem. This makes it difficult to believe in abilities and pursue goals. Building a positive self-image is essential in empowering students with ADHD to overcome obstacles and do well despite their challenges.
Classroom strategies for ADHD in schools
Using effective classroom strategies is essential in supporting students with ADHD:
Adopt positive reward-orientated strategies
Positive behaviour should be praised, and negative behaviours ignored as much as possible. Consistent boundaries should be expressed but always with a clear explanation.
Provide appropriate support
Children with ADHD may benefit from one-to-one attention; consider learning support assistants for higher-level assistance.
Break down large workloads into smaller chunks
Children with ADHD may thrive with tasks broken into smaller, manageable steps with clear, repeated instructions. They may also benefit from the use of visuals. This can help to clarify instructions, such as tasks they can cross off once completed.
Understand the student’s diagnosis
It's important for all educational professionals working with the student to have a clear understanding of their diagnosis.
Make adjustments in the classroom
Teachers should minimise distractions in the classroom. Seating ADHD students away from windows and potential disturbances is one way to do this. Placing them at the front, facing a blank wall, can enhance focus. If using this strategy, please take care that the child doesn't feel singled out or isolated.
Allow physical activity
Children and young people with ADHD benefit from regular breaks. We recommend allowing them to stretch and move to prevent discomfort from prolonged desk sitting.
How do you discipline a student with ADHD?
Disciplining a student with ADHD requires a thoughtful and understanding approach. You must consider a student's unique challenges and needs.
- Challenges of ADHD: Discipline should be approached with empathy. Consider the underlying difficulties that the student may be facing.
- Take your time: Unless there's an immediate safety concern, take your time.
- Patience is key: Children with ADHD may require repeated reminders. Practice patience and maintain consistency in your disciplinary approach.
- Avoid disciplining with anger: Children with ADHD may have difficulty managing emotions. It is essential to discipline calmly and without anger.
- Provide clear warnings: Offering clear warnings allows students with ADHD the opportunity to adjust their behaviour before disciplinary action is taken.
- Logical consequences: Help the student understand the connection between their actions and the consequences by implementing logical consequences. For example, if they break something, the consequence might involve repairing or replacing what was damaged.
- Be flexible and try different approaches: Recognise that disciplinary strategies may need to be adapted to suit individual needs. Be open to trying different approaches and modifying strategies.
What can parents do to improve learning for ADHD children?
Navigating ADHD while in education can be challenging for both children and adolescents. At Clinical Partners, we understand the complexities of ADHD and are here to offer support.
You can read our guide to helping your child prepare for school and improve their learning.
Whether your child is experiencing difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, or a combination, we offer a range of specialised services to address their needs.
Clinically reviewed
- Amy Mowson