ADHD Guides and Toolkits for UK Parents
Practical ADHD and SEND resources to help you understand behaviour, support emotional regulation, prepare for school conversations and navigate diagnosis or assessment.
Choose the issue that feels most relevant to your family right now.
Before exploring the free guides. Think about how I can help you, your child and your family
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
Choose support for you, your school conversations or your child. You have to start somewhere. Start with 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.
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
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.
Explore the guides
Which part of today is the hardest?
Pick whatever’s kicking off now.
Understanding What's Going On: For before diagnosis, during the wait, or when you're just trying to make sense of the pattern.
Talking to school
Word-for-word language and paperwork for the conversations you didn’t want to have to plan for.
Masking across the Key Stages
FREE
Free guide. Is your child coping at school but falling apart at home?
The early primary years can be challenging for children with ADHD or emerging SEND needs. Meltdowns after school, difficulty following instructions, emotional outbursts, sensory sensitivities and struggles with everyday routines can leave parents wondering what's really happening.
This practical UK parent guide explores how ADHD-related difficulties may appear in children aged 5–7, why behaviour can look different at home and school, and how to recognise patterns that may indicate a need for additional support.
What you'll gain:
A clearer understanding of ADHD-related behaviour and emotional regulation.
Guidance on recognising patterns, triggers and possible unmet needs.
Practical approaches to supporting your child at home.
Questions to help you begin conversations with teachers and the SENCo.
Greater confidence in identifying what support to explore next.
Understand the behaviour. Recognise the needs. Find a practical way forward.
FREE
Your child seems happy, settled and capable at school. But what does it take to keep up that appearance?
For children with ADHD, autism and other special educational needs, masking can mean hiding difficulties, suppressing emotions and working incredibly hard to meet school and social expectations.
This practical parent guide explores masking in Key Stage 2, including hidden anxiety, friendship difficulties, emotional exhaustion and why a child may appear fine at school but struggle at home.
Understand what may be happening beneath the surface, recognise signs of distress and explore ways to support your child.
Because appearing to cope isn't always the same as coping.
FREE
Ages 10–16
Transition & Secondary
Preparing for Changing Demands
The move to secondary school brings new routines, friendships, academic pressures and growing expectations of independence.
For children with ADHD, autism and other SEND, these changes can expose hidden struggles, increase emotional exhaustion and make everyday school life harder to manage.
This practical guide helps parents understand the changing demands, recognise when their child is struggling beneath the surface and explore ways to support them through the secondary years.
FREE GUIDE
Meltdowns and after school
For the bit of the day that goes off like a timed firework.
Free guides
Ages and stages. Guidance that matches where your child actually is, not a generic age.
FREE 34-PAGE EHCP GUIDE | NURSERY TO YEAR 13 | ENGLAND
What Evidence Do I Need for an EHCP Assessment?
Not sure what evidence your child needs, what school should provide, or where to begin?
You don't need a diagnosis, a professional report or the school's permission to request an EHC needs assessment.
This completely free, 34-page parent guide walks you through the evidence that may be useful at every stage, from nursery to Year 13, without complicated legal language.
What's inside?
Year-by-year evidence checklists: what to look for at your child's age and stage.
Where to find the evidence: school records, support plans, professional reports and your own observations.
Know your next step: an explanation of the assessment process, a ready-to-adapt request letter and guidance if an assessment is refused.
Created by Janine M Nesbitt, former SENCo and SEND specialist with 34 years' experience in education.
Button: DOWNLOAD MY FREE EHCP GUIDE
Free PDF | For parents and carers in England | No diagnosis needed
Based on the legal framework currently in force in England.
"If you'd like help working out what your evidence actually means, I offer a 60-minute Focused Parent Session."
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.
Already know the problem you need help with?
"If you'd like help working out what your evidence actually means, I offer a 60-minute Focused Parent Session."
Book your 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
Zoom or telephone call
A focused, parent support session to help you cut through the noise and work out what needs to change first.
Includes:
I will analyse your completed form and use it it to prepare guidance for telephone call or Zoom,
Zoom or call 60-minute online consultation;
individual discussion of your child’s needs and current difficulties;
clear priorities and recommended next steps;
a concise written follow-up summary;
20-minute review call within four weeks.
This session is for parents who know something is not working, but are not sure what the next step should be.
You may be dealing with emotional outbursts, morning battles, school worries, homework stress, anxiety, suspected ADHD, autism, dyslexia, sensory needs, friendship difficulties, sleep issues, behaviour concerns, masking, low confidence or a child who seems overwhelmed by everyday demands.
You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis, a folder of reports or a perfect explanation.
You can start with:
“I know something is wrong, but I don’t know what to do next.”
That is enough.
Best for parents who:
feel overwhelmed and do not know where to start
are constantly firefighting behaviour at home
have tried strategies that worked for a week, then disappeared into the void
are unsure whether the difficulty is ADHD, anxiety, autism, dyslexia, school stress, sensory overload or something else
need help understanding what may be driving their child’s behaviour
want practical next steps, not judgement or generic advice
need someone experienced to help them see the wood for the trees
What we can explore
Depending on what is happening for your child, we may look at:
behaviour patterns at home or school
emotional meltdowns and regulation difficulties
morning routines, homework, bedtime or transitions
possible ADHD traits
anxiety, masking or school-related stress
dyslexia, learning difficulties or confidence issues
sensory needs or overwhelm
communication with school
whether further support, assessment or SEND advice may be needed
This is not about jumping to a label.
It is about understanding the barrier.
Once the barrier is clearer, the next step becomes much easier to choose.
You leave with:
a clearer picture of what may be driving your child’s behaviour
practical, realistic next steps
ideas you can actually use at home or in school conversations
a better sense of what to prioritise first
less guilt and more direction
This session may help if you are thinking:
“I don’t know if this is ADHD or something else.”
“School says things are fine, but home feels impossible.”
“We have tried reward charts and nothing sticks.”
“I am tired of guessing what my child needs.”
“I need help before I speak to school.”
“I just need someone to help me make sense of it all.”
Your starting point when everything feels too much
The Parent Clarity Call gives you space to pause, talk through what is happening, and leave with a clearer plan.
No judgement.
No jargon.
No pretending one sticker chart will fix family life by Friday.
Just practical parent support, clear thinking and a sensible next step.
The Parent Clarity Consultation includes a focused discussion, a concise written summary of the key priorities and agreed next steps, and one 20-minute review call to be used within four weeks. It does not include a formal assessment, diagnosis, detailed report, legal advice, extensive document review or ongoing email support. Any additional sessions or written work are booked separately.
Online parent support across the UK, school and EHCP guidance focuses on England.
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When friendships get complicated, feelings get big, and you don't know what to do next.
A FREE 21-page friendship and feelings guide for girls aged 10–13
One day, they're best friends. The next day, someone isn't speaking, the group chat goes quiet, or she's left out at lunchtime.
For some girls, particularly those with ADHD, friendship difficulties can feel overwhelming.
What looks like a small disagreement to an adult can leave a girl questioning herself, replaying conversations, worrying about rejection or dreading school the next morning.
The Friendship Fallout Decoder helps girls make sense of what happened, understand how they feel and work out what to do next.
Created by Janine M Nesbitt, an experienced SEND specialist and former SENCo with over 34 years in education, this practical, reassuring guide combines relatable friendship situations, emotional literacy activities and straightforward strategies that girls can use in everyday life.
What's inside this free guide?
Across 21 thoughtfully designed pages, girls can explore:
Friendship fallouts: Understanding disagreements, misunderstandings and changing friendships.
Big feelings: Recognising disappointment, jealousy, anger, embarrassment and rejection.
Facts or worries? Learning to separate what actually happened from what they think might have happened.
Group chats and social pressures: Navigating messages, exclusion and the feeling of being left out.
Healthy friendships and boundaries: Understanding kindness, respect and when a friendship doesn't feel right.
Finding the right words: Practical phrases for difficult conversations, asking questions and repairing friendships.
When to ask for help: Recognising bullying, repeated exclusion or situations that feel unsafe.
Five ready-to-use scripts: Helping girls reach out to a trusted adult when it feels difficult to talk about what is happening.
There is also guidance to help parents and carers respond with understanding rather than rushing to fix everything.
Who is it for?
This guide is designed for girls aged 10–13, particularly those who:
Find friendships confusing or emotionally exhausting.
Worry about being left out or losing friends.
Replay conversations and wonder what they've done wrong.
Struggle to explain how they feel.
Find it difficult to speak up or set boundaries.
Need reassurance that they are not alone.
It may be particularly helpful for girls with ADHD, but a diagnosis isn't needed. Friendship difficulties and big emotions can affect anyone.
Why I've made it free
Friendships are an important part of growing up. They help children develop confidence, identity and a sense of belonging.
But when friendships become difficult, children don't always have the words or emotional tools to explain what they're experiencing.
After more than 34 years working in education, I believe girls deserve practical, age-appropriate support that helps them feel heard, understood and more confident.
Parents deserve that support too.
That's why I've made this comprehensive 21-page guide available completely free.
Because every girl deserves to feel that she belongs, without having to change who she is.
Download your free copy
21 pages | Printable PDF | Ages 10–13 | Completely FREE
A guide girls can explore independently, share with a trusted adult or work through together with a parent or carer.
If you need more help see below.