By Laura Gowers, education expert and founder of This is Dyslexia and This is Neurodiversity.
As the new school year approaches, parents of neurodivergent children face unique challenges and opportunities. You might be concerned about how your child will transition into their next year group. Perhaps it took them months to adjust to their last teacher, or you may have previously struggled to get your child’s condition recognised and supported. Neurodivergent children, who may have conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, giftedness or sensory processing disorder, often require additional support to navigate the academic and social demands of school. With thoughtful preparation and proactive strategies, parents can help their neurodivergent children thrive in the new school year.
It is highly likely that around 20% of children within any given classroom will have a form of neurodivergence. Every form of neurodivergence will have different developmental markers; however, there will also be several crossovers within conditions that fall under the broad umbrella of neurodivergence. Here are some ideas to help support your child as they settle into the new academic year.
Advocate for your child
One of the first steps to successfully supporting your neurodivergent child is being prepared to advocate for them. Reading through your child’s diagnostic report enables you to familiarise yourself with their distinct learning styles and the academic accommodations needed to enable them to thrive. These can include strategies for supporting with reading, focus, communication or resilience. Although at the end of the last academic year there would have been a handover between class teachers where information about students is shared, it’s beneficial to pass on a copy of your child’s report within the first few days of being with the new teacher.
Recognising that your child’s new teacher could have up to 30 new children to get to know is important during the first few weeks. That being said, it’s useful to request a brief meeting within the first couple of weeks to discuss the initial transition. This is often more beneficial than a couple of minutes snatched conversation at drop-off or pick-up time. During these particular periods, the teacher is more than likely trying to welcome or say goodbye to other children in the class and will not be able to give you their full focus.
Establishing a Routine
Neurodivergent children often thrive on routine and predictability. As the school year begins, establish a consistent daily schedule. This routine should include a similar time for waking up, eating meals, completing homework and aim for as close to the same time bedtime as possible. Visual schedules or calendars can be particularly helpful for children who struggle with transitions or have difficulty understanding the passage of time. Consistency in daily activities helps to reduce anxiety and creates a sense of security for your child.
Creating a Supportive Environment
A supportive home environment is crucial for the success of neurotypical and neurodivergent children. Create a designated homework space that is free from distractions and equipped with the necessary supplies. Consider using tools such as noise-cancelling headphones or chair bands to help your child stay focused. Choose a suitable time for homework that fits in with your family schedule. It’s beneficial to sit with your child while they are completing their homework to ensure that they have grasped the concept. Then let them work independently on the task. It’s really tempting to help your child a lot, but remember the homework is designed to check your child’s knowledge and understanding, not yours. Teachers will look at the homework to help plan their lessons, and by helping too much, you may be hindering your child in the long run. By all means, discuss the topic, but let your child complete the task using their own words.
Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills
Empowering your neurodivergent child to advocate for themselves is a valuable life skill. This is often best taught by parents and involves guiding your child to communicate their needs and feel confident to ask for help when necessary. Role-playing different scenarios can help children practice these skills in a safe environment. Building self-advocacy skills not only helps your child have a voice in their own learning journey, but it also promotes independence and confidence. These are vital skills to develop during childhood.
Encourage Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is an effective strategy for boosting your child’s self-esteem and confidence. Praise your child for their efforts and accomplishments, no matter how small. It’s good to have a conversation with your child about a system to motivate and celebrate their successes. Some children respond well to sticker charts, others to a monetary token of some sort (e.g., 10 positives during a week equals a trip to a toy store), whereas others would be happy with verbal recognition. Consistent positive reinforcement helps build a sense of achievement and reinforces the learning behaviours you want to see.
Top 5 questions to ask your child’s class teacher
1. Discover if there is a daily routine within the classroom. You can then build this into discussions at home.
2. Find out if there are particular strategies used to help children transition between activities or cope with changes in routine.
3. Learn if there are any specific classroom rules or expectations that should be reinforced at home to support success.
4. Discover if there is a preferred way to communicate with the teacher.
5. Find out what the expectations surrounding homework and reading at home are.
To summarise, maintain open lines of communication with your child’s teacher and school staff. Regularly share information about your child’s progress, challenges, and any changes in their needs. Collaboration between home and school is essential for providing a consistent and supportive experience for your child. Finally, never underestimate the power of collaboration and the impact this has on your child’s view of school and their understanding of adults who are guiding them on their educational journey.
About the expert
Laura Gowers, the founder of This is Dyslexia and This is Neurodiversity, is dedicated to empowering neurodivergent individuals to thrive. With a background as a qualified teacher, SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) and dyslexia assessor, Laura has over 24 years of experience in education and a profound understanding of the unique challenges and strengths of neurodivergent individuals. You can find out more www.thisisdyslexia.co.uk
