The transition to secondary school for your child with ADHD is exciting but can also be quite scary. Children with a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect their academic and social functioning find it a bit challenging. Secondary school is a lot bigger with many more subjects, a different teacher for each subject, new peers who have not grown up with your child and can therefore be less understanding of their differences, and the challenge of making new friends, and keeping them.
Your child’s primary school may have already put together a transition plan jointly with secondary school. If not, here are some tips to make the move as smooth as possible:
1. Inform the School
Make sure the school knows that your child has been diagnosed with ADHD and share the diagnostic report with them if possible. These reports often have helpful recommendations for education staff to support your child during lesson time as well as during unstructured break times.
2. Practice the School Route
Try to practice with your child the route to and from the new school. The transition to Secondary School for your child with ADHD is a big change, so familiarity always helps.
3. Fix the Sleep Routine
A couple of weeks before the beginning of term, try to get your child back into a regular sleep routine as this can take time to establish. Don’t leave it until they are back in school. Evidently, a sleepy child who struggles to get up in the morning will find it much harder to settle and enjoy the new experience of secondary school. If your child really struggles with sleep, speak to your doctor, paediatrician, or child psychiatrist about options to help improve their sleep pattern which can include medication.
4 . Ask for the School Timetable
Ask the new school for a timetable of your child’s week before school starts and try to familiarise your child with it. Make copies for your child to take to school and to keep in their schoolbag and hang in their bedroom. Make sure you make extra copies in case they lose them!
5. Ask to Replicate Primary School Adjustments
If your child benefitted from certain adjustments in primary school, check if these can be replicated in secondary school. For example, if they found using fidget objects such as tangles or squeezable balls helpful in class, ask if this would be possible in the new school. If they were allowed movement breaks, check if the new school can provide similar means for your child to recharge. If there were variations to their timetable such as an earlier return to class after break this might also be helpful in the new school. This helps the child settle back into the quiet classroom environment after a busy and stimulating break. In addition, being seated in the front of the classroom reduces distractibility but may not always be possible in secondary school where the child attends various classes.
6. Leave Spare Sets at School
Check if your child is allowed to leave spare sets of important things in school. This is useful in case they lose them or forget to bring them in when they are needed. Such things can include PE kits and stationery.
7. Join Homework Clubs
Ask about homework clubs if your child struggles with completing homework at home. Secondary School for your child with ADHD could be a bit tough, therefore allowing them to complete their homework during the school day may help as the environment is quieter with fewer distractions.
8. Remind Your Child to Have Fun
Above all, remind your child to have fun! Secondary school offers a fresh start with opportunities to make new friends and to learn new things. With good preparation and organisation, transition can be an enjoyable experience.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our professional psychiatrists to discuss your child’s case, please click here to reach out to us. You can also read more about our Assessment pathway for children with ADHD on our website.
The ADHD Institute is a great resource as well if you’d like to read more.