ADHD Support / Advice & next steps
ADHD support in school
ADHD support is not about making a child try harder or removing every challenge. It is about adjusting the environment and teaching skills in a way the child can access.
Quick answer
School support for ADHD should respond to the child’s individual barriers, whether or not a diagnosis is confirmed. Helpful approaches may include clear instructions, predictable routines, movement opportunities, reduced distraction, task chunking, visual prompts and support with emotional regulation. The plan should be specific and reviewed for impact.
What this means
Attention, activity level, impulsivity, working memory and regulation can affect children differently across lessons and times of day. Ask school to identify the situations where access breaks down and where the child succeeds. Effective support often combines classroom adjustments, positive relationships, explicit teaching of routines and a plan for recovery after overwhelm rather than relying only on sanctions or repeated reminders.
A diagnosis can inform understanding, but SEN Support and reasonable adjustments should be based on observed need. Support should not be delayed solely because a child is waiting for assessment.
Strategies need review. A movement break that helps one child may distract another, and a plan that works in a quiet lesson may not work during transitions or unstructured time.
Questions to ask
Which parts of the school day create the greatest barrier, and when does the child cope well?
Which adjustments will every relevant member of staff use?
How will the child ask for movement, clarification or a regulation break?
What will be measured and when will the plan be reviewed?
Local Northamptonshire route
Support begins with the school. North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire publish separate Local Offer and SENDIASS information, so use the service for your area if you want free impartial help. ADHD diagnostic referrals are health routes and may change; confirm the current pathway with the GP, school or referring service.
Free support and useful links
External free resource
West Northamptonshire SENDIASS
Free, impartial SEND information, advice and support for families in West Northamptonshire.
External free resource
North Northamptonshire SENDIASS
Free, impartial SEND information, advice and support for families in North Northamptonshire.
External free resource
Northamptonshire Local Offer
Local SEND information, services and support routes for children and young people.
External free resource
GOV.UK SEND information
Official information about special educational needs, EHC plans and support.
External free resource
IPSEA
Free SEND law information and resources for parents and carers.
External free resource
Council for Disabled Children
National resources and information about SEND support and policy.
Professional help is available if you need it
Paid support is not required for school adjustments. Begin with the teacher, SENCO and existing health professionals. Independent advice or assessment is optional and should address a clear question rather than replace the school’s responsibility to support need.
What happens next?
Review whether adjustments improve access, participation and wellbeing, not only behaviour. If difficulties persist, ask what will change, whether further assessment is needed and how support will remain consistent while any diagnostic referral is pending.
Support that may help
School SENCO · Class teacher or tutor · GP or ADHD service · SENDIASS · Educational psychologist, where relevant
Related guidance
SEND Lantern provides general information to help families understand possible next steps. It does not replace legal, medical or local authority advice.
Independent guidance for families
SEND Lantern is an independent guidance platform operated by SEND Lantern Ltd. We help families explore special educational needs and disabilities support, possible next steps and relevant services. SEND Lantern is not part of the NHS, a local authority, a school or any individual service provider. Information on this website is general guidance and should not be treated as medical, legal or educational advice.