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A useful video to explain what to expect from Hampshire schools when providing for your child.

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Ordinarily Available Provision and SEND Support | Hampshire CTSH

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BWJS can now refer to the 'Hampshire Neurodiversity and Wellbeing Multi-Disciplinary Team' offering schools and parents support where it is felt a child may have neurodiversity.

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Hampshire Neurodiversity and Wellbeing Multi-Disciplinary Team | Hampshire CTSH

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We know it can feel overwhelming when you think your child might be neurodivergent. You may have questions, worries, or feel unsure about what help is available.

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NEW - Digital Referral to School Nursing Team

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NEW - Digital Referral to School Nursing Team

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This can be used by parents or teachers to make referrals to the School Nursing Team.

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Digital referral for the 5-19 Hampshire Community Public Health Nursing Service

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Our service works with children and young people aged 5-19 to support their health and emotional wellbeing needs within school, home and community settings in line with the Healthy Child Programme. As Specialist Public Health Practitioners our aim is to work in partnership with families, health, education, social care and partner agencies.This is a Microsoft form, with high level security, access controls and encryption. You will be asked to provide the name, date of birth, address of the child / young person that you are referring and some details about yourself. This is to allow us to accurately identify the child/young person who requires support and update their health record. Your information will only be held on the MS Forms system for 1 month. For further information on the use of your data and your rights, please visit: https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/application/files/3017/2769/3389/HW0124_-_Your_information_your_rights_leaflet.pdf

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BWJS - Drop-in sessions with SENDCo and ELSA- NEXT SESSION TODAY- WEDNESDAY 1st JULY 2.30pm

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BWJS - Drop-in sessions with SENDCo and ELSA- NEXT SESSION TODAY- WEDNESDAY 1st JULY 2.30pm

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HPCN May meetings

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Copy of Copy of What do ReMinds do-2.pdf-3

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Person Centred Psychology Meetings explained

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Person Centred Psychology Meetings explained

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We are working in conjunction with Hampshire Educational Psychology Service this year to offer PCP meetings to some children with SEN and EHCPs in Year 6. This video explains what a meeting involves and how you can prepare for a meeting. These meetings will be offered during the summer term.

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Person-centered meetings | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Educational Psychology

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NEW OCTOBER 2025- CHANGES TO NHS SERVICES for children with ADHD and Autism

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NEW OCTOBER 2025- CHANGES TO NHS SERVICES for children with ADHD and Autism

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Outlines of announced changes to services for children with ADHD and autism in Hampshire- including the pausing of 'Right to Choose' assessments by some providers.

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Autism and ADHD Assessment Services :: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight

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Waiting for an Autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment can be difficult, and we want to keep you informed about the current situation and what we’re doing to improve access to these services.

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Includes a directory of services available to families in Hampshire

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Connect to Support Hampshire is an online information and advice guide and directory of services for adults with care and support needs who live in Hampshire.

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Hampshire SENDIASS offer support, including legal advice, to parents of children with SEND. This can include assistance with applying for EHCP and mediation between parents and the local authority.

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Do you need some support responding to an EHCP or a Working Document? Join one of our online clinics where we'll guide you through the process.

Impartial Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support (SENDIASS) in Hampshire

Hampshire SENDIASS is an impartial Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) that aims to make a positive and lasting difference for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) and their parents and carers. We do this by providing timely confidential, impartial information, advice and support through our online resources, at events and workshops, via our helpline service and through individual casework.

​

Hampshire SENDIASS is provided by Polaris Children's Services, part of a leading Children's Services Group with over 24 years of experience in supporting children, young people and their families to build brighter futures.

Feedback

Tell us what you think by taking a quick questionnaire!

Get in Touch

If you can't find what you need, feel free to get in touch with us, our opening hours are Monday-Thursday, 9am-5pm, and on Fridays 9am-4pm . Outside of these hours please use the Contact Us Form. We aim to respond to all enquiries within 2 working days.

0808 164 5504

The Local Offer includes information about education, health, social care, preparation for adulthood, leisure services and impartial information advice and support. Hampshire's Local Offer (co produced with parents, carers and young people) aims to help you find your way through the maze of information to reach the best solutions for you/your child.

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Hampshire SENDIASS | Impartial SEND Advice & Support

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Hampshire SENDIASS provide information and support to Children & Young People with special education needs and/or a disabilities.

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Re:Minds - Parental Support & Courses for children / YP with SEND (based in Southampton but can offer some support to Hampshire parents)

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Re:Minds - Parental Support & Courses for children / YP with SEND (based in Southampton but can offer some support to Hampshire parents)

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Fantastic high-quality support groups and information events on a range of issues effecting parents of SEND young people. Some support services are accessible to Hampshire parents

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Re:Minds is a Southampton based organisation supporting families whose children/young people have Autism, ADHD or other neurodiverse needs and/or mental health needs - with or without a diagnosis. Our aim is to allow people whose children face similar issues to meet up in an informal setting to share knowledge and talk about any challenges our families are facing. We don't claim to be experts, just other families who understand what it can feel like to be on this journey.

​

We are the primary link between families and Southampton Specialist CAMHS and offer speakers on a range of topics.

As well as groups, we have a multiple large, private Facebook Groups for peer support for families and up-to-date information about our work.

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We also share regular updates on Twitter and in our monthly newsletter.

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All of our speaker meetings are shared on our youtube account so nobody misses out. The videos offer a wealth of advice and strategies from CAMHS and other services on autism, ADHD, anxiety, emotional regulation and more.

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Re:Minds is a parent-led support group for families who have children/young people with autism or mental health issues and is based in Southampton.

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Offering support groups and advice to Hampshire parents and carers of children with SEND

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The government's statutory guidance on duties, policies and procedures relating to Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and associated regulations for England. Essential reading for understanding your child's rights.

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Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This statutory code contains:

details of legal requirements that you must follow without exception

statutory guidance that you must follow by law unless there's a good reason not to

It explains the duties of local authorities, health bodies, schools and colleges to provide for those with special educational needs under part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

The code, which applies to England, is for:

headteachers and principals

governing bodies

school and college staff

special educational needs (SEN) co-ordinators

early years providers

other education settings

local authorities

health and social services staff

Other SEND guides are also available.

Thank you for your feedback

Report a problem with this page

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Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014.

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Disability Service Advocacy Team - April workshops

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Disability Service Advocacy Team - April workshops

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DWP External Sessions April - Registration Required

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Your local authority's SEND Local Offer provides information about the services available in your area for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Essential for finding local support.

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BBC Bitesize - Special Educational Needs

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BBC Bitesize - Special Educational Needs

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BBC Bitesize offers excellent learning resources that can be adapted for children with special educational needs. The website includes interactive activities, videos and games across all curriculum subjects.

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Add subjects and guides to My Bitesize to get learning quicker.

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Twinkl offers a vast array of downloadable teaching resources specifically designed for children with SEND. Many resources are visual and can be particularly helpful for children with autism or communication difficulties.

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SEND Resources and Support for Teachers - Twinkl

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A range of materials to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

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Young Minds offers free, confidential support for parents worried about their child's mental health. Their website includes excellent resources and their helpline is staffed by trained professionals.

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We support main carers of children and young people, as well as parents. You might be a kinship carer, legal guardian, foster carer, grandparent or sibling. If you are the child or young person's main carer, we want to support you. Our advisers are trained and experienced in supporting carers as well as parents.

If you are a family member or friend, but you are not the child or young person's main carer, see our online information for advice around how you can support them. You can also encourage their parent or main carer to contact us.

If you are a professional looking for information about supporting the young people you work with, see our resources for professionals.

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Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child

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The YoungMinds Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email provide support and help for parents and carers worried about their child's mental health and wellbeing.

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IPSEA - Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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IPSEA - Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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IPSEA provides free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with SEND. They offer excellent training resources for parents.

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

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IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) - helping children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) get the education they are entitled to by law

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Mindfulness Activities for SEND Children

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Mindfulness Activities for SEND Children

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Simple mindfulness activities that can help children with SEND manage anxiety and emotions. These activities can be particularly helpful during transitions or challenging times.

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A selection of recommended apps that can support children with communication difficulties. These include text-to-speech apps, picture exchange communication systems (PECS), and symbol-based communication tools.

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Information about various types of assistive technology that can support learning and independence. Includes recommendations for reading software, writing tools, and organisational aids.

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A curated list of apps that can help with sensory processing difficulties. These apps can be particularly helpful for children with autism or sensory processing disorders.

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Hampshire CAMHS provide NHS mental help support service and diagnostics services to young people living in Hampshire. This includes children requiring assessment for ADHD.

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Hampshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are an NHS service that aims to help young people up to the age of 18 who are finding it…

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Information on the referral pathway for Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy

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Children’s Therapy Service :: Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust

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Our Children’s Therapy team works closely together to support children and young people who need specialist help from one or more of our therapy services. These include Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy.

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The Owl Centre - Current Autism Spectrum Condition NHS referral pathway provider

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The Owl Centre - Current Autism Spectrum Condition NHS referral pathway provider

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Parents requiring a NHS referral for Autistic Spectrum Condition can use this service. School will need to refer your child for you.

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Hampshire IOW Children Referrals and Waiting List - The Owl Centre

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Any professional working within an education, health, or social care setting can make a referral for NHS funded assessments. After referral, The Owl Centre will request further information from the child’s family and school to ensure that the referral is appropriate. If appropriate, the child will be accepted onto the waiting list.

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'Right to Choose' pathway for NHS referrals for ADHD and ASC

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'Right to Choose' pathway for NHS referrals for ADHD and ASC

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CURRENTLY PAUSED FOR NEW REFERRALS: In England, under the NHS, you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider, including for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments. This service, offered through the NHS, is free of charge. Parents will need to choose their preferred provider, then print the relevant forms to take to their GP for a referral using this pathway. Wait times are currently shorter using this pathway than the NHS, but it is possibly about to be abolished.

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Right to Choose: ASD & ADHD Assessment Pathways - Cuckfield Medical Practice

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What is Right to Choose? In England, under the NHS, you now have a legal right to choose your mental healthcare provider, including for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit…

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CAMHS NHS Mental Health Support Team in Schools

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CAMHS NHS Mental Health Support Team in Schools

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BWJS are members of the CAMHS Mental Health Support Teams in Schools. This means we can access support directly within school, making referrals. Children can be assessed within school, with the MHST making onward referrals to CAMHS if they feel it is required. They do also take on referrals themselves, often involving offering parental support courses and counselling children within school.

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What causes sensory overload?

Sensory overload occurs because the brain has received too much information. There is a part of the brain called the amygdala which is responsible for directing information to where it needs to go. The amygdala is a bit like an air traffic controller. However, instead of directing planes, it directs sensations. All of the information the brain receives comes from the senses.

When sensory overload occurs, the amygdala struggles to prioritise and organise the information. It's a bit like the air traffic controller trying to land three planes onto two runways at the same time. The air traffic controller would need to make some very quick decision to avoid a disaster. And they would be extremely stressed throughout.

During sensory overload, the complexity of sensory information is too much for the brain to process. This leads to a stress response. As already mentioned, the response will be different for different individuals.

Consider all of the sensations that might contribute to sensory overload

It is important to consider all of the sensory inputs that the individual is processing. The videos above give some good examples. People who experience sensory overload typically notice more information than others. And their brains may not ignore irrelevant sensory information as readily. This means they are already processing a lot more information from the environment.

If you talk, that is more information to process. When you change a plan, there is extra information to process. Think about what sensations are happening in the background. And, don't forget they are also processing the internal inputs from their own body as well.

Remember sensory inputs are cumulative

Sensory inputs are cumulative. So, each builds on the next and the brain needs to process them all. Individuals with sensory sensitivities are typically the ones that experience overload and shutdown. This is because their brains have lower thresholds for the amount of sensory inputs they can tolerate.

It's important to consider what the individual may have done before they arrived. It might have been a stressful trip to school because there were road works, so they had to take a different route. This will add to their sensory inputs.

So will any interactions the individual has had earlier on in the day. This might be that they had run out of their usual breakfast cereal. They may have had a disagreement with a friend on the playground. Or, the music class might have been really loud because they were practising drumming. All of these sensory inputs can add to sensory overload.

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What is sensory overload and how can I support individual's sensory needs

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Sensory overload occurs because the brain has received too much information. There is a part of the brain called the amygdala which is responsible for directing information to where it needs to go. The amygdala is a bit like an air traffic controller. However, instead of directing planes, it directs sensations.

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Sensory circuits are increasingly used to help children manage sensory behaviour.

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Hampshire CAMHS drop-in sessions- March & April 2026

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Hampshire CAMHS drop-in sessions- March & April 2026

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Hampshire CAMHS Information & Advice Sessions in Winchester - April 2026
YOUNG PERSON'S MENTAL HEALTH

This is a free opportunity for parents/carers, professionals or young people to come and chat to our CAMHS clinicians, ask questions, get advice and resources.

Information & Advice Sessions - Winchester - 1st April 2026

Occurrence: 1st April 2026

Time: 10am - 2pm

Location: The Arc, Jewry Street, Winchester SO23 8SB

You can pre-book a free slot by following this link to our booking site.

Please note that your booked slot will be allocated to someone else if you you are unable to make your appointment within 5min.

Alternatively, just drop in on the day between the hours of 10am and 1.30pm.

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DROP IN SESSIONS - April 2026 - Winchester - CAMHS

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Hampshire CAMHS Information & Advice Sessions in Winchester - April 2026 YOUNG PERSON'S MENTAL HEALTH This is a free opportunity for parents/carers, professionals or young people to come and chat to our CAMHS clinicians, ask questions, get advice and resources.

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Hampshire SENDIASS courses - Summer 2026

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Hampshire SENDIASS courses - Summer 2026

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Some great courses to support parents in seeking support for their children, including understanding guidance around Hampshire's new Ordinarily Available Provision Guidelines.

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We run online clinics for people applying for an EHCP or responding to a draft or tribunal working document. Click to learn how to attend.

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Workshops

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BWJS offer support to parents using the Back to Basics materials

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Contact - For Families with Disabled Children

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Contact - For Families with Disabled Children

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A brilliant charity offering advice and support for families with disabled children. They provide a helpline, workshops and guides on various topics including benefits and education.

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Contact - for families with disabled children | Contact

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We are Contact, the charity for families with disabled children. We support families, bring families together and help families take action for others.

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© National Children’s Bureau 2025. Registered charity No. 258825. Registered in England and Wales No. 952717.

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Family Fund deliver grants for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young people on a low income across the UK

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Contact - for families with disabled children | Contact

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We are Contact, the charity for families with disabled children. We support families, bring families together and help families take action for others.

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A charity supporting autistic and disabled children offering grants towards the cost of an assessment for Autistic Spectrum Condition.

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Caudwell Children | Children's Charity | Changing Children's Lives

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Caudwell Children is a children's charity that is transforming the lives of disabled children and their families.

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Offers resources, support and grants for families affected by disabilities.

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Caudwell Children | Children's Charity | Changing Children's Lives

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Caudwell Children is a children's charity that is transforming the lives of disabled children and their families.

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Hampshire County Council specific advice on SEN issues and provision.

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Hampshire County Council Wellbeing Service

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Hampshire County Council Wellbeing Service

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Simon Says - Bereavement service for children

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Simon Says - Bereavement service for children

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Simon Says offers support groups and a telephone helpline to support parents and professionals guide children through losing a loved one.

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Home page for Simon Says Child Bereavement Support charity showing support activities and ways you can support the charity.

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A national bereavement charity offering support to children and their families.

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Winston's Wish is the UK's childhood bereavement charity. We support children and their families after the death of someone important.

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Advice used by schools and professionals to help children through traumatic bereavements, including information on what this is and what it can mean for young people.

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Free, evidence-based resources to support schools, colleges and practitioners working with traumatically bereaved children and young people.

Traumatically bereaved children and young people experience significant distress and difficulties, over and above a more typical grief. Traumatic bereavement can be easily missed or misunderstood by parents, teachers and even bereavement practitioners, meaning that children's difficulties are not recognised.

These resources will give school staff and practitioners the knowledge and tools they need to identify, help and support children and young people experiencing a traumatic bereavement.

Traumatic bereavement animation

Traumatic bereavement overview

Resources

These resources will give school staff and practitioners the knowledge and tools they need to identify, help and support children and young people experiencing a traumatic bereavement.

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Free resources for school staff and practitioners to identify, help and support children and young people experiencing a traumatic bereavement.

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Educational Psychologist Telephone Advice Line for Parents

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Educational Psychologist Telephone Advice Line for Parents

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A great phone line to use for help and advice run by the Hampshire Educational Psychology Service

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Hampshire Youth Access offers therapeutic support for children and young people across Hamphire.

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Counselling, advice and support for children and young people across HampshireHampshire Youth Access (HYA) is a partnership of 10 leading agencies providing counselling, information, advice, and support to children and young people aged 5 to 17 across Hampshire. We also give advice and information to anyone concerned about a child or young person's emotional wellbeing.

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NHS advice on what dyslexia is

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Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that mainly causes problems with reading, writing and spelling.
It's a specific learning difficulty, which means it causes problems with certain abilities used for learning, such as reading and writing.

Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isn't affected.

It's estimated up to 1 in every 10 people in the UK has some degree of dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a lifelong problem that can present challenges on a daily basis, but support is available to improve reading and writing skills and help those with the problem be successful at school and work.

What are the signs of dyslexia?

Signs of dyslexia usually become apparent when a child starts school and begins to focus more on learning how to read and write.

A person with dyslexia may:

read and write very slowly

confuse the order of letters in words

be confused by letters that look similar and write letters the wrong way round (such as "b" and "d")

have poor or inconsistent spelling

understand information when told verbally, but have difficulty with information that's written down

find it hard to carry out a sequence of directions

struggle with planning and organisation

But people with dyslexia often have good skills in other areas, such as creative thinking and problem solving.

Read more about the symptoms of dyslexia.

Getting help

If you think your child may have dyslexia, the first step is to speak to their teacher or their school's special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) about your concerns.

They may be able to offer additional support to help your child if necessary.

If your child continues to have problems despite extra support, you or the school may want to consider requesting an in-depth assessment from a specialist in assessing specific learning difficulties (SpLD), an educational psychologist or a speech and language therapist.

This can be arranged through the school, or you can request a private assessment by contacting:

Adults who wish to be assessed for dyslexia should contact a local or national dyslexia association for advice.

Read more about how dyslexia is diagnosed.

Support for people with dyslexia

If your child has dyslexia, they'll probably need extra educational support from their school.

With appropriate support, there's usually no reason your child can't go to a mainstream school, although a small number of children may benefit from attending a specialist school.

Techniques and support that may help your child include:

occasional 1-to-1 teaching or lessons in a small group with a specialist teacher

phonics (a way of teaching children to identify and process the smaller sounds that make up words) combined with other techniques

technology like computers and speech-recognition software that may make it easier for your child to read and write when they're a bit older

Schools and colleges must offer support to students with a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia, and have access to specialist staff who are trained in helping students with special education needs.

Assistive technologies such as speech-recognition software, word processors and electronic organisers can be useful for adults, too.

Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace to help people with dyslexia, such as allowing extra time for certain tasks.

Read more about how dyslexia is managed.

Support groups

As well as national dyslexia charities such as the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), there are several local dyslexia associations listed on the BDA website.

These are independently registered charities that run workshops and help to provide local support and access to information.

What causes dyslexia?

People with dyslexia find it difficult to recognise the different sounds that make up words and relate these to letters.

Dyslexia isn't related to a person's general level of intelligence. Children and adults of all intellectual abilities can be affected by dyslexia.

The exact cause of dyslexia is unknown, but it often appears to run in families.

It's thought certain genes inherited from your parents may act together in a way that affects how some parts of the brain develop during early life.

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Read about dyslexia, a common type of learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling.

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British Dyslexia Association offers a wealth of advice and support.

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This website places cookies on your computer to improve your experience. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For more details, see our privacy policy. I agree

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The British Dyslexia Association is the voice for the 10% of the population that are dyslexic

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NHS advice on moving up /transition within or between schools

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NHS advice on moving up /transition within or between schools

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Includes helpful advice and videos on helping guide your child through the transition process.

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inourplace | Solihull Approach - Online courses for emotional health and wellbeing.

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inourplace | Solihull Approach - Moving up

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For parents of children moving up to a new school Moving up Raising emotional health: For parents of children moving up to a new school Moving up and changing school is a big change for children and parents or caregivers. It's a new stage of growing independence and separation.

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What is neurodiversity?

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What is neurodiversity? Explaining how some people's brains work differently

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Each person has a brain that is unique to them; no two brains are quite alike. These differences may lead to a neurological diagnosis.

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Dyslexia Support | Hampshire Dyslexia Association

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Dedicated to informing families, adults and employees about dyslexia across Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Find a specialist tutor or a qualified SpLD assessor.

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The Dyslexia Association receives many calls from parents, who feel that they are not getting enough support for their child in school. Parents understand their children best and are often the first to realise that something is not quite right.

We always recommend to speak initially with the school SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), they may have also noticed some learning differences and they can often suggest further screening in school.

We believe that it is really important to try and identify a child's learning differences because if these are understood then the right intervention can be used in school. These differences might be attributed to dyslexia, or they could be co-occurring or overlapping differences such as dyspraxia, dyscalculia or ADHD, and these neurodivergent labels do not have to have negative connotations.

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The Dyslexia Association receives many calls from parents, who feel that they are not getting enough support for their child in school. Parents understand their children best and are often the first to realise that something is not quite right.

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Farnham based charity offering dyslexia support to parents and schools.

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The team at Helen Arkell provide specialist support, advice and information to people with dyslexia, and parents, teachers and employers. Find out more about our resources, courses and other projects here.

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Advice on developing scissor skills

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Teaching children scissor skills and cutting – what are the steps?

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Occupational therapist Kim Griffin explains the four stages of learning scissor skills. She includes tips for teaching children how to cut.

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A helpful article if you feel surprised by your feelings surrounding your child's diagnosis

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How it feels when your child receives diagnosis - GriffinOT

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How it feels when your child receives a diagnosis often can be confusing and overwhelming. Here is some helpful advice and links.

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Interoception Explained - Processing internal sensory messages - GriffinOT

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Interoception refers to all of the the sensory messages we receive from inside our body. It supports self-regulation, attention and learning.

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Comprehensive information about educational rights and support for autistic children. Includes advice about choosing schools, EHC plans, and managing school-related challenges.

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Your Internet Explorer 11 browser is not supported by this site. Please upgrade to a recent browser for the best experience.

In this section you will find information on education for autistic children. Our guides provide advice for parents/carers and teaching professionals.

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Your Internet Explorer 11 browser is not supported by this site. Please upgrade to a recent browser for the best experience. In this section you will find information on education for autistic children. Our guides provide advice for parents/carers and teaching professionals.

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Young Minds offers help and support to families where a young person might have ADHD.

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What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects behaviour and concentration.

Children and young people with ADHD often seem unusually restless, impulsive or distracted. They may speak or act without thinking, struggle with organisation, find it hard to focus or appear to be always on the go. Some people with ADHD do not experience hyperactivity. This used to be called attention deficit disorder (ADD), though this term in no longer used officially.

ADHD is not a mental health condition or a learning disability. But children and young people with ADHD may also have other conditions or experience mental health problems.

Living with ADHD can be very challenging, for children and young people as well as for their parents and carers. But the right diagnosis and support can make a big difference to a child's learning, life skills and relationships, as well as making family life easier. There is also lots you can do as a parent or carer to help your child manage the things they find difficult.

What are the most common signs of ADHD?

A child with ADHD may:

be easily distracted, finding it difficult to start or finish tasks

often feel unable to concentrate

often feel restless or fidgety

be very talkative, often interrupting or blurting things out

act impulsively, for example doing something before considering consequences or being prone to taking risks

be easily angry or frustrated, or struggle to deal with emotions

find making or maintaining friendships difficult

be disorganised, for instance often losing things or being late

lack awareness of time

Every child or young person with ADHD is an individual and they may not display all of these behaviours. Many of these behaviours are normal in younger children. They can also be caused by traumatic experiences. So if your child is showing some of these signs, it does not necessarily mean they have ADHD.

It's important to understand that age and gender can also affect how someone with ADHD behaves. This can make it harder to spot signs of ADHD, particularly in girls. Girls are more likely to be undiagnosed or wrongly diagnosed with other conditions.

Typically, the signs of ADHD develop in early childhood and they may become particularly noticeable at times of significant change, such as when a child starts or changes school.

What to do if you think your child might have ADHD

If your child frequently experiences some of these things and it's affecting their day-to-day life, discuss your concerns with your child's GP. Before doing this, talk to your child's teacher and the school special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) about what they have noticed.

The GP may want to refer your child for assessment, as ADHD can only be diagnosed by a specialist such as a child and adolescent psychiatrist or paediatrician.

Sometimes parents are reluctant to pursue assessment. They may be worried about 'labelling' their child or about stigma, or they may prefer to watch and wait. These feelings are normal. But parents and young people who do seek diagnosis can find it helps them access the right support, understand and manage challenges, and identify individual strengths.

We have more information about getting support from the GP, CAMHS and school in our guide.

ADHD diagnosis and support

ADHD assessment is usually done through the NHS mental health service for children and young people, known as CAMHS. Diagnosis is most commonly made in childhood. In the majority of cases, young people continue to experience ADHD behaviours and qualities into adulthood.

There is no single, definitive test for ADHD. Specialists will base a clinical diagnosis on their observations of your child, discussions and questionnaires (with you and your child), and information from your child's school.

They will consider how long the behaviours have been present, how much they impact daily life and whether they might be due to another condition. The NHS states that around 60-80% of children with ADHD have at least one other condition (such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety or behaviour issues). In some cases, this means a child may be given more than one diagnosis.

You and your child should be offered support and advice to help you manage some of the challenges that might be affecting day-to-day life. Medication and talking therapies may also be offered. These options should be discussed with you when your child is diagnosed.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines for NHS treatments. The support they recommend for ADHD is outlined in the their guidelines. Your child may be offered:

Therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can support children and young people with ADHD to understand themselves and find coping strategies when things are hard. For more information about therapy, see our parent guide to counselling and therapy.

Many children and young people with ADHD do not take medication. But medication may sometimes be offered to support someone in managing challenges that are affecting their day-to-day life. Medication should only ever be prescribed and overseen by a specialist.

You may also be offered ADHD-focused parent training. This does not mean your parenting is somehow wrong. It is designed to provide support and to empower you with specific strategies and skills that can help your family thrive.

Jack is still perennially late, disorganised and impulsive; but he's also energetic, original and creative. The medication is helping him make the most of all of that.

What you can do to support your child with ADHD

Be explicit and consistent about unacceptable behaviour, such as violence. Set appropriate consequences and follow them through, but try to stay calm in the moment to avoid escalation. Dealing with challenging behaviour can be very hard, and our parent guide has helpful advice.

Plan the day so your child knows what to expect. Maintaining regular sleep patterns, physical activity and mealtimes can help your child. Some people find dietary change and/or certain supplements helpful. But the NHS states that there is no clinical evidence for this, and medical advice should be sought first. Our young person's guide has helpful advice on sleep problems.

My son has had times of feeling down about his ADHD, but increasingly he is able to recognise that it also part of his creativity, originality and energy.

The impact of ADHD on your child's mental health

Any child or young person can struggle with their mental health and wellbeing, whether or not they have ADHD. This might be caused by things like family change, bullying, exam stress or a traumatic event.

But having ADHD may also mean your child has extra challenges - such as social difficulties, struggling to manage their emotions or getting into trouble at school. This can leave them more vulnerable to low self-esteem, anxiety or depression.

Children and young people with ADHD frequently have other developmental or mental health conditions. It is important to ensure they have the appropriate support for these.

As a parent there is a lot you can do to support your child with their wellbeing and mental health:

Encourage your child to talk about how they are feeling with you. Our starting a conversation guide has ideas for keeping communication open

If you feel your child may have a mental health problem or another condition alongside ADHD, discuss your concerns with their GP or ADHD specialist.

Our son's challenging behaviour with ADHD had an enormous impact on the whole family, as we and his brothers bore the brunt of his anger.

The hardest thing for me is that I get angry so easily. I can't control it and it makes me feel awful afterwards.

Working with school if your child has ADHD

ADHD is a special education need (SEN), and it may be referred to as a specific learning difference (SpLD). Your child is entitled to appropriate support to help them thrive socially and educationally. This could include potential adjustments in certain situations, such as extra time or rest breaks for exams, movement breaks in lessons, written instructions for tasks and a seating plan that minimises distractions.

Discuss the diagnosis and needs with the school's SENCO, taking a list of your concerns and background information to the meeting.

Your child may be entitled to an education, health and care plan (EHC plan) which details the support they need and how it will be provided. (The National Autistic Society has helpful information about EHC plans).

Good communication between you and school can be really helpful in ensuring your child thrives in education and meets their potential. Our parent guide to support has more advice on talking to school or college.

ADHD in teenagers and beyond

If your child is a teenager or young person, their needs and the support you give may well be different from when they were younger. They may like to read our young person's guide to ADHD and mental health. But there are still many ways you can help.

Looking after your own wellbeing

Parenting a child with ADHD can sometimes be isolating, upsetting or exhausting. Sometimes parents feel judged or blamed by others (unjustifiably as parenting does not cause ADHD). It is entirely understandable if you are finding things difficult.

It's important to recognise the impact the situation is having on you, and think about ways you can take care of yourself - including getting support from other people so that you can take some time off. It's okay to ask for help when you need it, and to share your worries with someone you trust. We have advice on looking after yourself as well as your child.

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.
This page was reviewed in March 2022. It was created with parents and carers with lived experience of supporting their child or young person with ADHD. We will next review the page in 2025. YoungMinds is a proud member of PIF TICK - the UK's quality mark for trusted health information.
Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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ADHD Support For Your Child | Parents Advice Guide

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If your child is struggling to manage their ADHD, read our tips on what you can do to support them, how to get a diagnosis and where to find help.

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Parenting courses offered by Hampshire County Council as part of the Sollihull Approach

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Youth Options offers 'Non-Violent Resistance Training' for parents in Hampshire. This approached can be used in the family home.

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Social Story 2026 - Year 3 Gingko (male)

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Social Story 2026 - Year 3 Gingko (male)

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Social Story 2026 - Year 3 Gingko (female)

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Social Story 2026 - Year 3 Gingko (female)

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Social story transition from yr3 2026 girl gingko

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Social Story 2026- Year 3 Maple (female)

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Social Story 2026- Year 3 Maple (female)

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BWJS Ordinarily Available and SEN Support Provision document 

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BWJS Ordinarily Available and SEN Support Provision document 

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This document aims to outline the support we offer to our pupils as standard ('Ordinarily Available Provision') and as part of 'SEN Support', once children are listed on our SEN register.

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Summary document of our current 'Graduated Approach' from early identification of issues through to EHCPs.

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BWJS Graduated Approach Flowchart Feb 26

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School Nursing Team Clinic - now available at BWJS

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School Nursing Team Clinic - now available at BWJS

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The School Nursing Team offer support with issues such as immunisations, sleep and continence. We are now hosting a monthly clinic in school. Referrals to the team can be made through contacting Mrs Senior - sendco@bwjsapps.co.uk

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The best possible start in life - Grownups - Health for Kids

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Health for kids - Grownups - Health for Kids - Everything You Wanted To Know About Health

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Hampshire CC Educational Psychologist service

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Hampshire CC Educational Psychologist service

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Hampshire County Council Educational Psychologists provide support in schools - offering training, advice and support to staff, supporting SENDCos to meet needs of pupils and offering consultations with parents and pupils.

Hampshire EP Service adopts a person-centred psychology approach with the young person and their strengths and aspirations at the centre. They rarely offer a diagnostic service.

The website explains what to expect if you have a meeting booked with the EP at BWJS.

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Information on what STAS offer to schools and parents.

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Transition Partnership Agreements offer extra information to secondaries school for children with EHCPs and SEND.

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Upcoming local workshops where you can find all about the services available within Hampshire to families with SEND

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Disability Services Advocacy Team - May events

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Disability Services Advocacy Team - May events

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DWP External Sessions May - Registration Required

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Workshops to help understand and formulate a response to the Government's White Paper.

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Primary Behaviour Service Leaflet - Obsessions and Compulsions

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Primary Behaviour Service Leaflet - Obsessions and Compulsions

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Primary Behaviour Service Leaflet - Autistic Spectrum Conditions

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Primary Behaviour Service Leaflet - Autistic Spectrum Conditions

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NEW LOCAL SEN SCHOOL - Admissions Policy for Luminous Oaks Academy, Boorley Park

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NEW LOCAL SEN SCHOOL - Admissions Policy for Luminous Oaks Academy, Boorley Park

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Winchester SEN team are currently sending EHCP consults to Luminous Oak Academy for September 2026. Children will need to have SEMH written as their primary need on their EHCP.

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We are signed up to the new Hampshire Approach to Inclusion

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Hampshire approach to inclusion - adopter information (2)

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How To Cope When Your Child Can’t Event – Chandlers Ford 26 – CAMHS

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A training day for Parents and Carers in the New Forest

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Hampshire CAMHS - Embracing Autism Course

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Hampshire CAMHS - Embracing Autism Course

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Embracing Autism – Thursday, 9 July 2026 – CAMHS

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Hampshire CAMHS - Understanding ADHD Course

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Hampshire CAMHS - Understanding ADHD Course

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Understanding ADHD
Wednesday 16 September 2026 - Havant
A day that focuses on skills and strategies - understanding your child with ADHD, support, strategies and tips.

Event Information

Occurrence: Wednesday 16 September 2026

Time: 9.30am - 4pm

Location: The Pallant Centre, Havant, Hampshire PO9 1BE

You can pre-book your slot by following this link to our booking site. Please note that some discretionary tickets are available on enquiry.
Unfortunately we are unable to offer any refunds or transfers on bookings.

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Understanding ADHD - Wednesday 16 September 2026 - CAMHS

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Understanding ADHD Wednesday 16 September 2026 - Havant A day that focuses on skills and strategies - understanding your child with ADHD, support, strategies and tips. Occurrence: Wednesday 16 September 2026 Time: 9.30am - 4pm Location: The Pallant Centre, Havant, Hampshire PO9 1BE You can pre-book your slot by following this link to our booking site.

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Social Story 2026 - Year 3 Redwood (male)

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Social Story 2026 - Year 3 Redwood (male)

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Social story transition from yr3 2026 boy redwood

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Social Story 2026 - Year 3 Redwood (female)

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Social Story 2026 - Year 3 Redwood (female)

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Social story transition from yr3 2026 girl redwood