Working with schools
The education system can be the source of huge frustration for families affected by ADHD.
In many cases, education staff are just as frustrated when they are not able to help a child reach their full potential.
Children with ADHD can be very disruptive in classrooms and undermine the efforts of the teacher to support other pupils.
If your child does not have a diagnosis of ADHD, but you suspect that they may have the condition, try not to use it as an excuse for any behavioural difficulties that may be arising, but rather ask of the school to consider the possibility and support a referral to CAMHS.
Some key messages
Try to avoid getting into a power struggle with school personnel, and indicated that you wish to support and collaborate with them in getting the best of your child
Never let your child know that you may dispute what the school is doing, but at the same time demonstrate to your son or daughter that you are doing everything that you can to support them
Focus on a limited number of key objectives rather than trying to change everything at the same time.
Celebrate the successes that you do have not only with your child but teachers and support staff in the school.
Indicate on a personal and emotional level that you understand the difficulties that school staff are facing and share your own feelings about the challenges you are facing at home.
Plead with school staff that they provide an honest and comprehensive profile of how your child is doing in school.
If you believe that your child is falling behind with their work and not making the progress that would normally be expected, request (in writing - because this makes it legal) an assessment of their reading comprehension, reading rate, spelling, and mathematical ability against what would be expected of their peer group.
Ask for frequent communication and updates and any indication that things are either going well or deteriorating.
Trying to persuade the school to build on relative strengths rather than focusing at all times on areas of weakness.
Keep communication with the school as civil as you can. Where you run into difficulties, or when you do not fully understand what is taking place, seek the support of an independent advocate to help you in meetings.
Keep a record of everything that is communicated to you.
Seek support from the Perth & Kinross ADHD Support Group if you need help.
With current local authority spending under considerable strain, support may not always be available to the level that is required for children and young people in school.
It is important to balance the needs of your child with those of others in the system and to be realistic about what can be achieved.
School personnel are often themselves the victims of decisions over which they have no influence to try not to make them targets of a system which may not be working at its full potential because of resource deficiencies.
Keep a record of everything that is said or written to you, along with the dates and times for future reference.
Parents who are very well-informed and well-supported are often in a better position to advocate for their own children than those who simply express anger at what they might see as failings.
High quality information is provided by a number of organisations which can tell you what your rights, and your children’s rights are, and signpost you towards other services if they are required.
Recommended support services:
The Enquire website contains huge amounts of useful information for all parents of children with additional support needs, including ADHD. Click on the following links to access their advice:
Understanding additional support for learning
Working with the school and solving problems
Getting the right support
Attendance and exclusion
Clan Child Law can represent your child and provide advocacy and advice if you run into difficulties.
Clan Childlaw is a unique legal and advocacy service for children and young people. We believe the law needs to work better for children and young people. We act to make this happen through our services:
We deliver free, confidential legal advice and representation in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Glasgow. We help children and young people up to the age of 18, or 21 if they have been Looked After. Our lawyers are experienced child lawyers who only represent young people. We can meet you at a time and place that is good for you, where you feel comfortable.
We provide free information and guidance about children's rights and the law to family members, carers and adults who work with children or young people in Scotland.
We provide training about children's rights and the law which affects children and young people across Scotland.
My Rights; My Say can also provide a similar service where disputes arise.
“In Scotland, all children have the right to have their views considered when decisions are being made about the support they get with their learning. Children with additional support needs aged 12 – 15 have rights to be more involved in the decisions that affect them.
My Rights, My Say supports children aged 12-15 to use these rights. It’s independent, confidential and easy to use, and here to make sure the voices of children with additional support needs are heard.”