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Bridgewater Health Services YouTube Channel

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Warrington Children's Occupational Therapy  - The Senses

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Child friendly video about ADHD

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NCMH (National Centre for Mental Health)

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Bridgewater Health Services YouTube Channel

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Warrington Children's Occupational Therapy  - What is Sensory Processing

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With more than twenty activities happening every day at the Youth Zone, every young person aged 7 – 19 (up to 25 with additional needs) can find their place at Warrington Youth Zone.

⭐ Film & Multi-media ⭐ Art, Fashion & Design ⭐ Gym ⭐ Sports Hall ⭐ Health, Beauty & Well Being ⭐ Recreation Area ⭐ Cooking & Life Skills ⭐ Indoor Rock Climbing ⭐ Boxing & Martial Arts ⭐ Dance & Drama ⭐ Enterprise & Employability ⭐ Music ⭐ Outdoor Garden

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Warrington Youth Zone provides young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.

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The Early Help Support team is a central team within The Early Help Division that supports Warrington Borough council staff and our partners with the Early Help journey.

Partnership Link Workers (PLW)  support with the Early Help Processes. They will assist with the completion of the paperwork.
Early Help Assessments (EHA) soon to be Think Family Assessment (TFA) Team around  the Family (TAF)  Review documents and Closures.

Early Help signpost support, offer training and help complete a package of support for families alongside school.

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Our early help teams work with participating families provide support to children, young people and their families as soon as difficulties start to emerge. We work with families and professionals to offer a range of support services, including:

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This tool is required to determin if your child meets the threshold for an ADHD referral.

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Bridgewater Health Services YouTube Channel

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Warrington Children's Occupational Therapy  - Sensory Strategies

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Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust - Useful resources - Warrington Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service

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We provide a range of information sheets to support parents, carers and professionals. These resources offer practical advice and strategies to help children and young people develop their speech, language and communication skills.

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What's on ADDvanced Solutions Summer 2026

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What's on ADDvanced Solutions Summer 2026

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Referrals are completed with home and school. Learning programmes must be completed first by parents with ADDvanced Solutions.

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Mental Health & Wellbeing – Broomfields Junior School

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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 the term in no longer used officially.

ADHD is not a mental illness or a learning disability, though 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, treatment 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/carer to help your child manage the things they find difficult.

What are the most common symptoms of ADHD?

A child with ADHD may be:

easily distracted, finding it difficult to start or finish tasks

often unable to concentrate

often restless or fidgety

very talkative, often interrupting or blurting things out

impulsive, acting before considering consequences, prone to taking risks

easily angry or frustrated, struggling to deal with emotions

finding making or maintaining friendships difficult

disorganised, for instance often losing things or being late

lacking awareness of time

Every child or young person with ADHD is individual and they may not display all of these behaviours. And many of these traits and behaviours are typical in younger children, or can follow a traumatic experience - they don't necessarily mean your child has ADHD.

Age and gender can also affect how someone with ADHD behaves. This can make it harder to spot signs of ADHD, particularly in girls, who are more likely to be undiagnosed or wrongly diagnosed with other conditions.

Typically the symptoms of ADHD develop in early childhood and they may become particularly noticeable at times of significant change, such as starting or changing school.

What to do if you think your child might have ADHD

If your child frequently experiences some of these symptoms 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 or school in our guide.

ADHD diagnosis, support and treatment

ADHD assessment is usually done through the specialist Children and Young People's Mental Health Services, commonly referred to as CAMHS.

Diagnosis is most commonly made in childhood, and in the majority of cases, symptoms affecting daily life continue into adulthood.

There is no single, definitive test for ADHD. Specialists will base clinical diagnosis on a combination of 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 symptoms have been present; their impact on your child's daily life; and whether they might be due to another condition. The NHS states that approximately 60-80% of children with ADHD have at least one other condition (such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety or behaviour problems), and your child may be given more than one diagnosis.

Support and treatment options

You and your child should be offered support and advice to help manage ADHD in their day-to-day life.

ADHD can also be treated with medication and/or therapies. These should be discussed with you when your child is diagnosed, and are set out in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on ADHD.

ADHD can be treated with therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). For more information about therapy, see our parent guide to counselling and therapy.

There are a number of types of medication. These are not a cure for ADHD, and many children do not take them, but they can help manage some of the symptoms. Medication must be prescribed and overseen by a specialist.

You may also be offered ADHD -focussed parent training. This does not mean your parenting is somehow wrong. It is designed to provide support and specific strategies and skills to help you and your child 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.

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 - that 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 and 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.

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.

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.

Where to get further support

If you would to speak to a professional adviser or find out more about how you can support your child, these organisations can help.
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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Our school offer and support.

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Take a look at the calendar for learning programmes. You must complete the learning programme before a referral.

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Learning Programmes for Families – Addvanced 2025

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To book your place, please contact our office on 0151 486 1788 or register below to be contacted. For Liverpool and Sefton parents and carers whose child/young person has a diagnosis of Autism (ASD). Subject to availability, places may be available to those whose child is under assessment for autism. This unique learning programme has been designed to equip and empower parents and carers with a better understanding of how autism is experienced by young people aged 14 - 19, providing learning, guidance and strategies to better support your own young person. The programme will take place over 3 Mondays, 23rd February, 2nd and 9th March, from 9:30am-2:45pm You should attend all 3 sessions. If you are unable to attend face to face, we also offer the Autism Learning Programme online in the evening - see here for more details You can also access our offer straight away via our community network groups which run every week during term time, no need to book, just come along. Find you nearest group here

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Child friendly video about Autism

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Amazing Things Happen - by Alexander Amelines

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The DSM-5 Criteria

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Criteria and tools used in an autism assessment

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Information about the diagnostic criteria used for an autism diagnosis and the tools used by the specialist team carrying out the assessment.

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MHST - Our school is supported by the Mental Health School Team (MHST). Each half term children can be brought to consultation for support with worry management, low mood, phobias, behaviour courses for parents and worry courses for parents.  If you have concerns about your child’s mental health, please get in contact with school with your concerns. 

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MHST - Our school is supported by the Mental Health School Team (MHST). Each half term children can be brought to consultation for support with worry management, low mood, phobias, behaviour courses for parents and worry courses for parents.  If you have concerns about your child’s mental health, please get in contact with school with your concerns. 

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The Mental Health Support Team service is currently available for local schools in Warrington (listed below).

The plan is for this nationally-funded service to eventually be rolled-out to other schools and colleges in the borough. This is part of the Government's plans to transform children and young people's mental health services through the NHS Long Term Plan.

Alderman Bolton Community Primary

Beamont Collegiate Academy

Beamont Primary

Birchwood High

Birchwood CE Primary

Cardinal Newman Catholic High

Brook Acre Community Primary

Culcheth High

Broomfields Junior School

Kassia Academy

Bruche Primary

Padgate Academy

Burtonwood Community Primary

Penketh High

Christ Church CE Primary

Sir Thomas Boteler CofE High

Cinnamon Brow CE Primary

UTC

Culcheth Primary

Dallam Primary

Green Lane Special School

Locking Stumps Primary

Meadowside Primary

Newchurch Community Primary

Oakwood Avenue Primary

Our Lady's Catholic Primary

St Alban's Catholic Primary

St Andrew's CE Primary

St Augustine's Catholic Primary

St Barnabas CE Primary

St Bridget's Catholic Primary

St Elphin's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary

St Margaret's C0f E Voluntary Aided Primary

St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary

St Stephen's Catholic Primary

Sankey Valley St James CofE Primary

Statham Primary

Warrington St Ann's CE Primary

Westbrook Old Hall Primary

Woolston Community Primary

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Our Mental Health Support Team within schools in Warrington

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Our Mental Health Support Team works with schools in Warrington to support young people's mental health and wellbeing.

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At school we have a trained ELSA who provides support for children. Please chat to your child's class teacher if you feel your child would benefit.

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Supporting Children with Anxiety and Additional Needs

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My feelings workbook - to help start conversations about emotions

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Calm the chaos - what's hiding behind behaviours

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Our new local offer has launched and is replacing Ask Ollie. We are committed to continually improving the information available across education, health, and social care.

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As a school we are unable to assess for dyslexia or dyscaculia. If you wish to have an assessment, pleasse contact us for advice.

Further information is available on teh British Dyslexia Associate website.

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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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As a school we support children with dyslexia and dyscalculia. We are unable to offer assessments. If you have a concern about your child, please contact school.

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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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Warrington SEND, Information, Advice and Support Service helps parents, carers and young people with special educational needs in early education settings, schools and colleges.

Most children will move through pre-school, school and college without any major problems, but some children and young people, may have difficulties in learning. If you have concerns or worries we may be able to help.

We can explain:

How the education system works

What early education providers, schools and colleges can do to help your child/young person.

What local authorities and other services can do to help your child/young person.

Your rights and your child/young persons rights.

We work in partnership with parents, schools, colleges, local authority and other service providers.
Message from North Boroughs Healthcare (NHS Foundation Trust )
Need urgent help with your mental health?

Live in Halton, Knowlsey, St Helens, or Warrington?

Call us on our new freephone number - we can help 0800 051 1508

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Warrington SEND, Information, Advice and Support Service helps parents, carers and young people with special educational needs in early education settings, schools and colleges. Most children will move through pre-school, school and college without any major problems, but some children and young people, may have difficulties in learning.

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What is an Information, Advice and Support (IAS) service?

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Warrington Parents & Carers Forum | Warrington

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Access support, training, & resources for families of children with special needs. Join us to advocate for better local services.

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Early Language Strategies for Parents and Guardians ELPG - YouTubeEarly Language Strategies for Parents and Guardians ELPG - YouTube

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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Strategies to support early communication

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Strategies to support early communication

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Strategies to support early communication skills in the early years - YouTubeStrategies to support early communication skills in the early years - YouTube

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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Working together to develop early social communication skills

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Working together to develop early social communication skills

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Working Together to Develop Early Social Communication Skills

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Strategies to support social communication and peer interactions

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Strategies to support social communication and peer interactions

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Strategies to support social communication and interaction

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Working together to develop social communication skills

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Working together to develop social communication skills

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Bridgewater Health Services YouTube Channel

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Working together to develop social communication Part 1 -  Bridgewater NHS Warrington Speech Therapy

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Social communication - Bridgewater NHS Warrington Speech and Language Therapy

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Verbal Reasoning - Bridgewater NHS Warrington Speech and Language Therapy

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Auditory Memory and Processing Skills - Bridgewater NHS Warrington Speech and Language Therapy

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Vocabulary and word finding skills - Bridgewater NHS Warrington Speech and Language Therapy

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Talkabout social skills groups - Bridgewater NHS Warrington Speech and Language Therapy

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Speech difficulities in younger children

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Speech difficulities in younger children

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Email for more details: cyp@addvancedsolutions.co.uk

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Mental Health Statistics UK | Young People

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How common are mental health problems among young people in the UK? These statistics show the scale of the mental health crisis among young people today.

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Living Well Warrington - Living Well Warrington

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Living Well Warrington connects you to people, communities and services in Warrington. Supporting Warrington residents to live well.