PRACTICAL ADHD AND SEND GUIDANCE FROM A FORMER SENCO

Your child is struggling. You’re not sure what to do next.

School says everything is fine. Mornings have become a battlefield. Or you simply know something isn't right, and nobody seems to be listening.

I'm Janine. I spent 34 years in UK schools. I'll help you understand what's going on and what to do about it, at home and at school.

Free 15-minute introductory call with ADHD in Practice
£0.00

A calm, no-pressure conversation giving you time to explain what is happening and work out what your next step could be.

This call is for parents, grandparents and carers of children with any diagnosed or suspected SEND—not only ADHD.

Your child may be experiencing difficulties connected with autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, anxiety, sensory needs, communication, learning, school attendance, emotional regulation or executive functioning. They may have several overlapping needs, or no diagnosis at all.

Children’s needs rarely arrive in neat, separate boxes. ADHD may overlap with autism, dyslexia, anxiety or sensory differences. A dyslexic child may also experience frustration, emotional overwhelm, shutdowns or meltdowns when learning demands repeatedly exceed the support available.

This is not a sales call. There is no hard pitch, no awkward pressure and absolutely no “book before midnight” nonsense.

During the call, we can talk about your main concern which could be:

  • what is worrying you most right now;

  • what is happening at home, at school or both;

  • the difficulties or patterns you have noticed;

  • whether learning needs, masking, anxiety, sensory overload or emotional regulation may be part of the picture;

  • questions you may need to ask school, your GP, CAMHS or an assessment service;

  • which SEND, NHS or school-support pathway may be worth exploring;

  • whether ADHD in Practice is the right fit for your family.

Your child may already have a diagnosis, be waiting for an assessment or simply have you thinking, “Something isn’t adding up.”

You do not need to arrive knowing the correct terminology. You do not need to decide whether it is ADHD, autism, dyslexia or something else before speaking to me.

Just tell me what is happening. We can begin there.

BOOK A FREE 15-MINUTE CALL

No diagnosis needed. No hard sell. Just a sensible place to start.

34 years in education

Dyslexia specialist

Emotional literacy support

Qualified teacher

Former SENCo

Tell me what is happening

You don’t need a diagnosis or a perfect explanation. Tell me a little about what is worrying you and I will help you work out where to begin.

Three steps. No waiting lists.

1: Tell me what is happening

A few sentences is plenty. You don’t need the right words or a diagnosis.

2: Have a free 15-minute call

We work out whether I’m the right person and which kind of help fits for you.

3: Leave with a first-step plan

Something you can use at home and take into school you can write it down so you don’t forget it.

What is happening for you?

Click on what feels most relevant to find out more, or get in touch if you are not sure where to start.

1.

Behaviour and emotions

Big feelings, meltdowns or shutdowns are taking over.

Start here:

2.

School says they're fine

School sees no problems, but home tells a different story.

Start here:

3.

School isn’t working

School attendance, learning or settling in is becoming difficult.

Start here:

4.

EHCP and SEND support

Take parents to your EHCP guidance page. This helps them understand assessments, reviews, evidence and available support.

Start here:

5.

Home life and routines

Take parents to your EHCP guidance page. This helps them understand assessments, reviews, evidence and available support.

Start here:

6.

I need someone to help me work through this.

Not sure where to start?

When something does not add up.

Start here

See the real child

You are not imagining it

Home tells the truth

Practical SEND and ADHD support for UK parents

Behaviour has a reason

How I can help you and your family

Choose support for you, your school conversations or your child. You have to start somewhere. Start with a free 15 minute call.

Free 15-minute introductory call with ADHD in Practice
£0.00

A calm, no-pressure conversation giving you time to explain what is happening and work out what your next step could be.

This call is for parents, grandparents and carers of children with any diagnosed or suspected SEND—not only ADHD.

Your child may be experiencing difficulties connected with autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, anxiety, sensory needs, communication, learning, school attendance, emotional regulation or executive functioning. They may have several overlapping needs, or no diagnosis at all.

Children’s needs rarely arrive in neat, separate boxes. ADHD may overlap with autism, dyslexia, anxiety or sensory differences. A dyslexic child may also experience frustration, emotional overwhelm, shutdowns or meltdowns when learning demands repeatedly exceed the support available.

This is not a sales call. There is no hard pitch, no awkward pressure and absolutely no “book before midnight” nonsense.

During the call, we can talk about your main concern which could be:

  • what is worrying you most right now;

  • what is happening at home, at school or both;

  • the difficulties or patterns you have noticed;

  • whether learning needs, masking, anxiety, sensory overload or emotional regulation may be part of the picture;

  • questions you may need to ask school, your GP, CAMHS or an assessment service;

  • which SEND, NHS or school-support pathway may be worth exploring;

  • whether ADHD in Practice is the right fit for your family.

Your child may already have a diagnosis, be waiting for an assessment or simply have you thinking, “Something isn’t adding up.”

You do not need to arrive knowing the correct terminology. You do not need to decide whether it is ADHD, autism, dyslexia or something else before speaking to me.

Just tell me what is happening. We can begin there.

BOOK A FREE 15-MINUTE CALL

Not sure what kind of help you need yet?

Start with a free 15-minute introductory call.

Tell me what is happening, what you are worried about and where you feel stuck. I’ll help you work out whether one of my services is the right next step for your family.

Book your free 15-minute call

Already know the problem you need help with?

Book a Focused Parent Session.

This is a 60-minute session for one clearly defined issue. We focus on the problem in front of you, work through what may be happening and identify practical next steps you can actually use.

£135 | 60 minutes | One issue | Clear next steps

Book a Focused Parent Session.

Focused Parent Session One issue. One hour. Clearer next steps.
£135.00

Sometimes you do not need a full review of everything.

You may have one problem that keeps circling in your head.

  • Perhaps mornings are becoming impossible.

  • Perhaps your child is falling apart after school.

  • Perhaps school keeps saying they are fine.

  • Perhaps you have a meeting coming up and you are not sure what to ask for.

  • Perhaps you are stuck between “wait and see” and “something needs to change”.

The Focused Parent Session is designed for exactly that.

This is a practical 60-minute session centred on one clearly defined issue. Zoom or telephone call.

We will look at what is happening, what may be underneath it, what has already been tried and what would be most useful to do next.

This is not a full document review, EHCP review or wider case analysis.

It is a focused space to stop going round in circles and work out the next sensible step.

This may be right for you if...

You are dealing with one main concern and need help thinking it through.

That might be school morning distress, after-school dysregulation, masking, friendship difficulties, a difficult school conversation, reduced attendance, behaviour that does not make sense or simply not knowing what to do next.

You may already have spoken to school and still feel unclear.

You may have received lots of advice but no actual plan.

Or you may simply need an experienced outside view to help you separate what matters now from everything else competing for your attention.

What the session includes

  • Before the session, you will be asked to identify the one issue you most want help with and provide a short summary of what has been happening.

  • During the session we will explore the pattern, identify what may be contributing to the difficulty and look at what is realistic for home and school.

  • The focus is practical.

  • Not pages of theory.

  • Not another list of things you “should” be doing.

  • We will work towards a small number of useful next steps that fit your child and your situation.

  • After the session, you will receive a brief written action summary so you are not left trying to remember everything we discussed.

You will leave with

  • A clearer understanding of what may be happening.

  • A better idea of what needs attention first.

  • A small number of practical next steps.

  • Clearer wording for what to say or ask if school is involved.

  • And, importantly, less of that feeling of:

  • “I know something is not right, but I do not know what to do with it.”

This session is not designed for

  • Extensive document review.

  • EHCP evidence analysis.

  • Appeal preparation.

  • Complex multi-agency cases.

  • Or situations where several issues need to be worked through in depth.

If your situation is broader or more complex, the full Parent Clarity Consultation is likely to be the better fit.

Focused Parent Session

60 minutes

£135

Includes a brief written action summary after the session.

One issue.

One clear focus.

One practical way forward.

Online parent support across the UK, school and EHCP guidance focuses on England.

Why parents work with me

You don't need another person telling you what your child should be doing. You need someone who will help you understand why things are difficult and what you can actually do about it.

Whether you're worried about ADHD or wider SEND, facing another school meeting, waiting for an assessment, considering an EHCP, or simply thinking, “Something isn't adding up,” I can help you make sense of what is happening.

Together, we look at the whole picture: what you see at home, what school is seeing, where your child is struggling and what may be getting missed.

Then we turn that understanding into clear, practical next steps for home, school and everyday life.

No jargon. No judgement. No one-size-fits-all advice.

Just experienced, practical support centred around your child and your family.

Where would you like to start?

What parents say

Free guides to support and help - when help is needed

Start with one small step. Parent Pattern Snapshot. It is a free guide.

A simple starting point for when you know something is happening, but you cannot yet see the pattern clearly. It helps you gather what you are noticing, compare home and school, spot possible triggers, and work out what to ask next.

What you’ll get

  • A clearer picture of what is happening

  • Prompts to spot when and where difficulties show up

  • Space to compare what school sees with what happens at home

  • Clues to possible triggers, demands and pressure points

  • A simple way to record what helps and what makes things harder

  • Questions to take into conversations with school, the SENCo or your GP

  • A final “what do I ask next?” page so you are not left with a pile of notes and no plan

School Says They’re Fine, but Home Tells a Different Story: A Five Day Parent Observation Toolkit
£0.00

School says your child is settled, coping or doing fine.

But at home, you are seeing exhaustion, tears, shutdowns, irritability, anxiety, explosive behaviour or a child who needs hours to recover from the school day.

Both experiences can be real.

This free 20-page ADHD and SEND parent toolkit helps you move beyond vague descriptions and record what is happening in a calm, useful and manageable way.

Across five school days, you will record brief observations about:

  • What happened before, during and after the difficulty.

  • What your child said or communicated.

  • How long recovery took.

  • What became difficult at home.

  • What support your child needed.

  • What appeared to help.

  • What was different on easier days.

The toolkit then helps you look across the five days, identify recurring patterns and prepare a clearer conversation with school.

By the end of the toolkit, you will have:

  • A completed five-day observation record.

  • Two or three clear examples to share.

  • A one-page summary of your concerns.

  • Your child’s views, where they are comfortable sharing them.

  • Questions to ask their teacher or SENCo.

  • A ready-to-personalise school email.

  • A record of any agreed actions and review arrangements.

You do not need a diagnosis to use this toolkit.

You also do not need to prove that school is wrong. The purpose is to help home and school build a fuller picture of your child’s needs and decide what should happen next.

Format: Free 20-page digital Word document
Suitable for: Parents and carers of children with ADHD, autism or other SEND, including children without a diagnosis
UK focus: School guidance and terminology relate primarily to England

School says your child is settled and coping, but at home you see exhaustion, tears, shutdowns, anxiety, anger or after-school meltdowns.

This free ADHD and SEND parent toolkit helps you record five school days and identify recurring behaviours and triggers. It will provide you with a starting point to open the discussion with school.

If you are still not sure where to start?

You do not need to choose the perfect service or arrive with all the answers. Start by telling me what is happening at home, at school or both.

Tell me what is happening at home, at school or both, and I will help you work out the most useful next step.

I will get back to you within 1-2 working days. You do not need all the answers to get in touch.