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Tourette Syndrome (TS) is not a learning disability but some of the symptoms and co-occurring conditions can have a substantial impact on a child's ability to learn. It is important that children with TS are properly supported at school to help them reach their full potential.

How can TS affect learning?

Approximately 1% of school children have TS (the same prevelance as Autism). Many of those children will try to suppress their tics at school. This takes a lot of effort and concentration which can compromise attention and ability to focus on school work.

Certain tics can be disruptive and distracting. It's important to note that tics are not always visible, for example people can experience internal tics such as stomach clenching, and thought tics.

Co-occurring conditions can affect learning, for example a child may experience intrusive thoughts as part of their OCD which can affect their attention and mental health

Children tend to tic more at home - this can affect their ability to concentrate on and complete homework. Sleep issues can be a problem for people with TS which will affect overall functioning.

How we can help

Advice and advocacy service

We provide training for schools, either in-house or via video conferencing. Our aim is to provide you with understanding and management strategies so that you can best support your pupils with TS.

If the situation requires it, we can be involved in organised meetings specific to a pupil with TS, where further understanding and support is required.

We can provide letter templates for schools to send out to parents and carers, that raise awareness about TS (including challenging tics such as coprolalia) to encourage understanding and constructive dialogue between children and their care-givers.

Please contact our Education Manager, Lucy for further information

Webinars

Presentations

Online training for school staff - The aim of this online resource (powerpoint presentation with notes) is to increase awareness for all staff in a school setting; bring awareness to the barriers to learning children with TS may face in school; and provide schools with tried and tested strategies they can easily put in place to best support these children. Please download and print the worksheet (right-hand column) to accompany the presentation.

Presentation for Primary School children - explains about Tourette Syndrome and can be used to raise awareness both at home and in school - download the presentation here

Presentation for Secondary School children - explains about TS and is a good tool to help educate older children and raise awareness - download the presentation here

Once Upon A Tic - a creative presentation to inform education and healthcare practitioners about some of the difficulties children have during the transition to secondary education, and in gaining a sense of safety with their tics amongst both peers and teaching staff.

Resources

TS Social Story - a learning tool to help support the exchange of information between children with TS and their teachers, friends and others in social situations (see right-hand side for download)

Executive Functioning difficulties - Looking all the different executive functions, it is easy to understand why executive functioning difficulties impact on progress for children in school, and this has been shown to be the case for those living with TS.. Read our factsheet (right-hand side) explaining the impact of executive functioning and TS.

Sudden onset of tics in school - a factsheet (right-hand side) for teachers, addressing the sudden onset of tics in some students and how to manage these in a school environment.

Video resources - Specialist teacher Katie Skinner presents a series of videos with advice and strategies for children, parents and teachers

Key facts for teachers - this leaflet (right-hand side) gives an overview of TS and how it can affect learning, and outlines management strategies for the classroom.

School passport - a support aid for students which contains information about their TS symptoms. Contact Venetia for your free passport.

Resources library - here you will find more information sheets, print and online artciles and book recommendations relating to school topics and TS

What makes us tic - general introduction to TS (right-hand side).

Top tips for teachers

Short, simple and clear instructions.

Time. Be patient and give the child time to focus and produce.

Movement is key to these Children's learning. Don't insist on sitting at a table with a pen for the whole task. Make it as interactive as possible.

Breaks need to be frequent.

Understand that Short bursts of work may be the key to success.

Handwriting is not a sign of intelligence. If it's not a handwriting or spelling assessment then scribe for the child to let their creativity flow.

Provide an area for time out where child can feel comfortable to go if things get too much.

Allow tics and don't tell off. And don't expect the child to be able to concentrate on what you are saying whilst they are ticcing.

Never punish a TS child for not completing work and never make them stay behind to finish work especially not to let them miss their play!

Support child in explaining tics to peers so they fully understand that they too are 'normal' children.

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Tourette Syndrome (TS) is not a learning disability but some of the symptoms and co-occurring conditions can have a substantial impact on a child's ability to learn. It is important that children with TS are properly supported at school to help them reach their full potential.

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If your child has been recently diagnosed we suggest taking the following steps:

Supporting your child through their education, needs to be approached as a working partnership between families and school. The following is a brief outline of the steps you should take when talking to the school following a diagnosis of TS:

Organise a meeting with the school to discuss how TS affects your child

Find out what the school's level of understanding is regarding TS - what experience do they have of supporting pupils with TS?

Provide Tourettes Action information and resources for teachers

Discuss the possibility of informing the rest of the class/school about TS to help reduce any misunderstanding, unwanted attention or bullying

Remember to discuss support needs around your child's TS and any related conditions, such as OCD, anxiety etc.

Share information about strategies you have found helpful at home

If your child is on medication, explain the possible side effects and inform the school of any changes to medication

Stay in communication with the school and meet with your child's class teacher and/or SENCO as and when needed, keeping records of discussions about your child's progress

Discuss ways for your child to manage their tics during the school day, and what adjustments the school can make to support your child

Presentations

Presentation for Primary School children - explains about Tourette Syndrome and can be used to raise awareness both at home and in school - download the presentation here

Presentation for Secondary School children - explains about TS and is a good tool to help educate older children and raise awareness - download the presentation here

Resources

We provide bespoke advice for parents regarding any questions or concerns about their child's education and school experience. Please contact our Education Manager Lucy for further information.

Key Facts For Teachers leaflet - an easy-to-read leaflet that outlines the main facts that all teachers need to know when supporting a child with TS (see right-hand side downloads)

What Makes Us Tic leaflet - an introduction to TS (see right-hand side downloads)

Tourette Syndrome Passport - a support aid for students which contains information about their TS symptoms. Contact Venetia for your FREE passport

Managing exam stress - click here for information on how to deal with anxiety and stress at exam time

Exam Access Arrangements - This factsheet will inform you of everything you need to know regarding the exam access arrangements available and answer some quastions to help you decide if your child might benefit from putting them in place

Preparing for Exams with TS - Revision Tips - This factsheet offers tips on how to best prepare for exams

TS Social Story - a learning tool to help support the exchange of information between children with TS and their teachers, friends and others in social situations (see right-hand side downloads)

Government support for undergraduate and postgraduate students

Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability.

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is support to cover the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability, such as TS. This can be on its own or in addition to any student finance you get.

The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs - not your household income.

You do not need to pay back DSA.

For more information about what DSA can pay for and how to apply, please click this link.

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School children with Tourette Syndrome have the same IQ range as the population at large, but difficulties associated with TS may present additional challenges at school. Depending on how your child's TS affects them a range of support can be implemented to ensure they get the help they need.

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Sudden Onset of Tics

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Posted on 22 March 2021 by Pippa McClounan

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, paediatricians and child mental health practitioners have noticed an increase in tic symptoms in some children and adolescents already diagnosed with tic disorders. Interestingly, clinicians have also seen a marked increase in presentations of sudden and new onset of severe tics and 'tic-like' attacks.

We have put together a number of resources which can help with the understanding and management of the sudden onset of tics:

COVID-19 related increase in childhood tics and tic-like attacks

Isobel Heyman and Holan Liang from the Psychologcial Medicine Team at Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children, and Tammy Hedderly from the Tic and Neurodevelopmental Movements Service (TANDeM), Guy's King's and Saint Thomas' School of Medicine in London, have written a report titled 'COVID-19 related increase in childhood tics and tic-like attacks', which has been published in the BMJ Journals.
Click here to read the full report
Tic Attacks

The term 'tic attack' is often used to describe bouts of severe, continuous, non-suppressible and disabling tics which can last from a few minutes to several hours. They often include whole body writhing movements, muscle tensing and shaking. Tic attacks can create a lot of anxiety for the individual experiencing them and their families.
Click here to download our Factsheet - Tic Attacks
Tic Tips

Aside from medication and behavioral therapy, there are strategies and measures which people with TS can take
to help manage their tics. Unfortunately there is no one-size-fits-all solution for managing tics. Everybody has
their own ways of coping; what might work for one person may not be suitable for another.

We have provided a list of creative ways to manage tics, based on feedback from people in the TS community.
Click here to download our Factsheet - Tic Tips
Pain and tics

Chewing the inside of your mouth, swinging your arm out wildly or even punching yourself in the chest are all examples of tics people can have. Tics like these can be painful to your body and can feel overwhelming. We talked to people in the TS community about strategies they use to help lessen the impact of pain caused by tics.
Click here to download our Factsheet - Pain and TS
Other Approaches

These can include diet and exercise or mindfullness techniques such as meditation and diaphragmatic breathing.

Tourettes Action have a Guided Relaxation specifically designed to help tolerate the urge to tic, reduce stress and manage tics, available with or without music.
Click here for more information on other approaches
School issues

Supporting a child with sudden onset of tics with their education needs to be approached as a working partnership between families and school. We have lots of resources that will help educate those around the child about how they can support and manage tics in the classroom.
Click here for more information about TS and education
If you have any questions, please contact the Tourettes Action Helpdesk.
Return to news

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Posted on 22 March 2021 by Pippa McClounan Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, paediatricians and child mental health practitioners have noticed an increase in tic symptoms in some children and adolescents already diagnosed with tic disorders. Interestingly, clinicians have also seen a marked increase in presentations of sudden and new onset of severe tics and 'tic-like' attacks.