Find the right support for your child and family.
Big emotions at home? School says everything is fine? Attendance, friendships or learning becoming difficult? Start with what you are noticing, not with a label.
What feels hardest right now?
Choose the concern that best fits your child. Each coloured pathway opens practical advice on an existing ADHD in Practice page.
Big feelings at home
Meltdowns, shutdowns, anger or distress after school.
Understand emotional overwhelm ↗ 02 / HIDDEN DIFFICULTIESSchool says they're fine
Your child seems to cope in class but home tells a different story.
Explore masking and hidden needs ↗ 03 / ATTENDANCEGetting into school is difficult
Distressed mornings, exhaustion, avoidance or increasing absence.
Explore school attendance support ↗ 04 / SCHOOL CONVERSATIONSI need to talk to school
You want to speak with the teacher or SENCo but aren't sure what to ask.
Read practical parent scripts ↗ 05 / UNDERSTANDINGCould this be ADHD?
Attention, emotional, sensory or learning differences may overlap.
Understand ADHD and related needs ↗ 06 / SEND PROVISIONSEN Support or EHCP?
Questions about school provision, evidence, assessments or reviews.
Explore EHCP and SEN guidance ↗Four steps. Not forty.
You do not have to understand everything today. Start with one difficulty and one useful action.
Choose the concern
Begin with what's happening, rather than guessing a diagnosis.
Notice the pattern
When is it difficult? What does your child say? What helps?
Try one action
Use a resource, adapt a routine or prepare for a meeting.
Review together
Check what's changed and ask for further support if needed.
Different ages. Different pressures.
The same difficulty can look different as demands change. Age bands are guides, not rigid boundaries.
Ages 4–7
Starting school, early learning, friendship worries, big emotions and sensory demands.
Explore the ages 5–7 guide ↗Ages 8–11
Quiet coping, masking, confidence, friendships and greater expectations.
Explore the Key Stage 2 guide ↗Ages 12–16
Attendance, timetable changes, social pressures, exams and emotional exhaustion.
Explore transition and secondary guidance ↗Not sure what to say to school?
You can raise a concern without knowing every acronym. Share what your child is experiencing, ask what support is already in place and agree when it will be reviewed.
Explore school and parent scripts“I’m concerned about how my child is managing at home and at school. Could we meet to discuss what support is in place and how we’ll know whether it is helping?”Use your child's own views and a few specific examples wherever possible.
Start with a free resource.
Three genuine ADHD in Practice resources. Choose the one most relevant to what is happening now. Links open the existing resource pages.
Parent Pattern Snapshot
Spot patterns, possible pressure points and what helps your child cope.
School Says They're Fine
A five-day observation toolkit to organise what you notice and prepare to speak with school.
The 3:45pm Survival Guide
Practical thinking for the difficult period after school, when energy may be running low.
Waiting for answers, or already diagnosed?
We are still waiting.
In England, schools can consider SEN Support based on your child's identified needs without waiting for an ADHD or autism diagnosis.
What to ask school for ↗We have a report. What next?
A diagnosis may explain some difficulties, but recommendations still need to become useful support that fits your child.
Understanding ADHD and next steps ↗ADHD and SEND information is relevant across the UK. References to SEN Support, EHC needs assessments and EHCPs primarily concern England; other UK nations have different systems.
When you need more than a guide
Independent, practical support to work through your situation and decide what needs to happen next.
Parent consultations
Make sense of concerns, identify priorities and agree practical next steps.
Explore parent support ↗School communication
Prepare questions, discuss SEN Support and plan productive meetings.
Explore school support ↗EHCP and SEND guidance
Understand evidence, provision, assessment requests and reviews in England.
Explore EHCP guidance ↗I provide advisory support, not a diagnosis, legal advice or representation at meetings. Any paid work is agreed in advance.
Before you take the next step
Does my child need an ADHD diagnosis before school can help?
No. In England, schools should consider a child's identified special educational needs and the support required. You can discuss concerns and ask about SEN Support before a formal diagnosis.
What if school says everything is fine?
Home and school may see different sides of the same child. Keep a short record of specific examples, listen to your child's views and ask school to explore the differences with you. Read about hidden difficulties.
What if school attendance is becoming harder?
Try to understand the barriers rather than focusing only on getting through the gate. Ask school for a clear support plan, actions and review dates. Explore school support.
Still not sure where to start?
A free 15-minute introductory call gives you time to explain your concern and see which next step, if any, might help.
34 years in educationDyslexia 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.
See the real childYou are not imagining it
Home tells the truth
Practical SEND and ADHD support for UK parents
Behaviour has a reason
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.
What parents say