When school says 'no concerns' but home tells a different story, you need someone who can put that gap into words school can't dismiss. I help UK parents turn what's really happening at home into evidence that gets taken seriously, so your child's needs are recognised, not overlooked.
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What to do while the diagnosis takes its sweet time — practical steps for getting your child support now, label or no label.
Right now, well over 800,000 people in England are waiting for an NHS ADHD assessment. Children's waits typically run from six months to three years; for adults it can stretch to two, five, even ten years in some areas. Somewhere in that number is you, checking the post and your phone what number are you now? chasing the SENCO, googling symptoms at 11pm, and being told to "wait and see."
Here's the thing nobody tells you: your child doesn't need a diagnosis to get support. They need it today, and the label if and when it arrives can catch up later.
How to get your child support at home and at school before any diagnosis exists label or no label
What "Right to Choose" is, and how it can shorten the wait
Scripts for talking to schools, GPs, and SENCOs without a diagnosis in hand
How to build a paper trail that actually helps your case
What changes once the assessment happens and what stays the same either way
A reminder, in writing, that you're not overreacting and you're not alone
Parents and carers in the UK who suspect ADHD in their child (or themselves), who've been referred or are about to be, and who are tired of being told there's nothing to do until the letter arrives.
Written by ADHD in Practice Janine Nesbitt honest, neuroaffirming support for ADHD families, without the jargon or the guilt.
A practical UK checklist to help parents gather clear, real-life evidence before a school meeting, referral or ADHD assessment. Record patterns, impact, support needs and what helps across home, school and daily life. This is not a symptom quiz and cannot diagnose ADHD.
You may be seeing difficult school mornings, after-school meltdowns, shutdowns, anxiety, friendship problems, sensory overload, behaviour changes or a growing gap between what school sees and what happens at home.
The Parent Pattern Snapshot helps you gather those pieces in one place.
It is not a diagnosis tool and it is not a behaviour chart.
It is designed to help you notice what keeps happening, when it happens, what may be increasing the difficulty, what appears to help, and what questions may be useful to ask next.
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 need to ask next?” section to help you move from noticing to action
This guide may be useful if:
you know something is not quite right but cannot clearly explain the pattern
school says your child is fine, but home sees something very different
you are preparing to speak to a teacher, SENCo, GP or other professional
your child is struggling with school, behaviour, emotions, learning, friendships or sensory demands
you are waiting for assessment and want to start gathering useful information now
you do not yet know whether ADHD, autism, dyslexia, anxiety, sensory differences or another SEND need may be involved
The Parent Pattern Snapshot does not diagnose ADHD, autism, dyslexia or any other condition.
It does not replace professional assessment, medical advice or school-based support.
Its purpose is simpler and more practical:
to help you notice patterns clearly enough to have better conversations and ask better questions.
Complete it over several days rather than trying to remember everything at once.
Look for repetition.
Notice what happens before the difficulty, what your child does, what happens afterwards, and whether the same triggers or demands keep appearing.
Then use the final page to prepare for your next conversation with school, the SENCo, GP or another professional.
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