Education consultants for children with ADHD
Do you need help finding the right school for a child with ADHD?
Many families come to us when life at school isn’t working out for their child.
They may be called in to school on a regular basis because their bright, lively child is once again in trouble. Homework may be a battle. Over time, the child they know and love, can lose confidence, feel as if they’re the ‘naughty’ one. Everyone, parents and their child, can end up dreading school.
Sometimes, schools may suggest that an assessment would be helpful. Other families already have a diagnosis. Others are at the start of the process, aware that school isn’t working but unclear as to why – does the problem lie with the school and will a move make it better, or is something else going on.
Our experienced ADHD education consultants help families understand how different schools support children with ADHD in practice. From mainstream state and independent schools to more specialist provision, we help parents identify environments where their child is more likely to feel understood, successful and comfortable in their own skin.
Speak to a SEN education consultant
If you need expert guidance on choosing a school or understanding different pathways we are here to help.
How we support families
Families come to us at many different stages of the process.
Some are concerned that their child with ADHD is struggling in school and want to understand what support may be available. Others are considering a school move, exploring specialist provision or trying to understand whether an EHCP may be appropriate.
We work with families at any point in their journey and provide guidance, advice and support to help them make informed decisions about their child's education.
We tailor our service to every family and can offer anything from a one-off consultation meeting to a full school search and admissions support service.
Our consultants take time to understand your child's strengths, challenges, interests and experiences before helping you evaluate the options available.
Some ways we can help
- Understanding ADHD support in schools
- Identifying supportive mainstream schools
- Comparing mainstream and specialist provision
- Finding schools that specialise in ADHD support
- Identifying primary schools for ADHD support
- Identifying secondary schools for ADHD support
- Exploring ADHD support in private schools
- Supporting transitions between schools
- Exploring whether an EHCP may be appropriate
- Helping families understand school support strategies
- Supporting applications and admissions
- Helping children build confidence and enjoy learning again
Our heritage
We have met countless families whose children are bright, capable and full of potential, yet whose experience of school has been negative, from constantly being in trouble to feeling frustrated that, unlike their classmates, they struggle to complete (or even start) tasks they are set. They may have difficulties with friendships, too.
Children with ADHD can have very different experiences in different environments. A child who struggles in one school may thrive in another. Getting a diagnosis can help because reports (particularly from an educational psychologist) will explain what schools can do to help. But it’s also down to the school’s ethos. A kind, sympathetic teacher who will teach the same thing in different ways until a child gets it can make a huge difference. Sometimes small changes can make a huge difference.
That is why finding the right fit matters so much.
Our consultancy service helps families look beyond prospectuses and policies to understand how schools support children with ADHD in practice, and identify environments where children are more likely to feel successful, understood and confident.
Who are our SEN education consultants?
Our SEN education consultants have extensive experience supporting families of children with ADHD and advising on both mainstream and specialist provision.
Because our consultants have first-hand knowledge of schools and SEN provision, we can help families look beyond policies and marketing materials to understand how schools support children with ADHD in practice.
We focus on helping families identify schools where children can succeed academically while also feeling understood, supported and valued for who they are.
We provide:
Totally unbiased, independent advice — we don't receive payment or commission from schools
Deep expertise across mainstream and specialist SEN provision
Advice focused on wellbeing, confidence and educational progress
Guidance on EHCPs and additional support where appropriate
Family-first consultancy
Talk to us about choosing a school
We can help you understand your options and find the right school for your child.
I often meet parents who have spent years advocating for their child and worrying that they are somehow getting it wrong. They can see their child’s strengths, but school has become a source of stress rather than success. Helping families find schools that genuinely understand ADHD - and seeing a child begin to feel more confident and positive about themselves again - is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.Charlotte Phillips, SEN consultancy manager
Some of our team
Charlotte Phillips
SEND consultancy manager
Before joining The Good Schools Guide, specialising in SEND, Charlotte wrote about education and family life for The Telegraph, Times and Guardian and more.
Grace Moody-Stuart
Consultancy director
Grace is director of The Good Schools Guide Education Consultants and has worked for The Guide for 20 years.
Selina Boyd
International director
An experienced education consultant with over a decade in international education, Selina Boyd has been with The Good Schools Guide since 2020.
Other services we offer
Supportive schools for autism consultancy
Our experienced SEN education consultants support families looking for the right school for a child with an autism diagnosis.
Education consultants for EHCP support
Our SEN education consultants support families navigating the EHCP process, understanding their options, and with school choices.
Private school consultancy
Our experienced private school consultants help families navigate the world of private schools.
FAQs about our education consultancy for children with ADHD
How do I choose the right school for a child with ADHD?
It’s important to think about what ‘right’ means here – this is all about finding a school that is the best fit for your child. So it’s about finding a school based on a range of factors. Support, of course, based on an understanding of neurodivergence but also all the other factors that matter, such as academic ability, environment, ethos, size and location. We can help you find the right school for your child, please get in touch.
What support should schools provide for ADHD?
Support can vary widely depending on what each child needs and whether the school is mainstream or specialist. It can vary from access to therapists to providing a safe haven when children are feeling overwhelmed. Each school will have an inclusion or SEN policy which outlines the level of support that is offered. While these are helpful, they form part of the overall picture. Our consultants are experts at advising on what the reality of the SEN offering is and whether it is suitable for an individual child. Please do get in touch.
Can children with ADHD thrive in mainstream schools?
The vast majority of children with ADHD are educated in mainstream schools. However, no child should be defined by a diagnosis. Any two children can have completely different needs, strengths and challenges with or without a diagnosis of ADHD. So looking at each individual child and what will help them to succeed at school should always be the starting point.
My child with ADHD is struggling in school. What should I do?
Positive liaison with the school (class teacher, head of learning support) can really help. If your child already has a diagnosis, then there are positive ways that can help to make life at school easier. These included extra help with the areas that a child finds difficult, such as meeting homework deadlines, planning exam revision and organisation so they have everything they need at the start of each school day. We can help you to work collaboratively with your school.
Are there schools that specialise in ADHD?
In every mainstream school, there will be pupils who have a diagnosis of ADHD. Sometimes children can need more support than a mainstream school can be provided, in which case it might be sensible to consider a more specialist environment. Some specialist schools support pupils with a range of needs while in others, the majority of children might have ADHD or a related diagnosis. Good special schools see excellent parent-school-child relationships and communication as the key to success. We can help you find the right school for your child.
Can you help us find secondary schools for ADHD?
Yes absolutely. We can identify schools for children of every age and with a range of needs, including suitable secondary schools. Please get in touch.
Can you help us find primary schools for ADHD?
We can identify schools for children of every age and with a range of needs, including suitable primary schools.
Are there private schools for children with ADHD?
Every mainstream school, whether state or fee-paying, will have a proportion of pupils with ADHD. A nurturing school which wants to do well by all its children, neurodivergent or otherwise, can be a successful environment for a child but it all comes back to the level of support that each child needs, in and out of the classroom.
Does my child need an EHCP with ADHD?
Sometimes an EHCP can be helpful in securing the right level and type of support for a child with ADHD, particularly if the support available without an EHCP is clearly not sufficient. Getting an Education, Health and Care Plan is a big step for any family. Our consultants can advise on what is involved and how the support provided by an EHCP differs from what is available in schools without one.
Can you help us understand what support a school can realistically provide?
For families trying to weigh up whether schools will be able to provide the level of support their child needs, knowing what is available with and without an EHCP can be part of the consultancy process. Please get in touch to find out more.
Can you liaise with schools on our behalf?
We offer a wide range of consultancy services, and the type and level of support is tailored to each family with as much or as little hands-on involvement as you need. We can be with you every step of the way, from the initial conversation to short-listing and contacting schools on your behalf and supporting you through the stages of the admissions process - everything you need to guide you through this important decision from start to finish.