What's the difference?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is recognised as a condition that can create special educational needs if it affects learning, behaviour, attention, or emotional regulation in school.

Schools in England must follow the framework set out in the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice.

1. Ask for SEN Support in School

Every mainstream school must provide SEN Support before anything more formal. This normally means:

• Identifying the child's needs
• Putting adjustments in place
• Creating a SEN Support Plan (sometimes called an IEP)
• Reviewing progress regularly

Examples of support for ADHD might include:

• movement breaks
• reduced distractions in seating
• shorter tasks
• visual instructions
• behaviour and emotional regulation support
• extra adult support

You can formally ask the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) for this support.

2. Ask for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment

If the school support is not enough, parents can request an assessment from the local authority.

This is the process that may lead to an Education, Health and Care Plan.

An EHCP is a legal document that can require:

• specialist teaching support
• therapy input
• a specialist school placement
• funded one-to-one support

Important point: Parents can request this assessment directly. The school does not need to agree.

3. If the School Is Ignoring the Problem

You can escalate in stages:

1. Speak to the class teacher
2. Request a meeting with the SENCO
3. Contact the headteacher
4. Use the school's formal complaints process

Keep written records of meetings, emails, examples of difficulties at school.

4. Evidence That Helps

When asking for support, evidence strengthens the case:

• ADHD diagnosis or paediatrician letters
• school reports showing difficulties
• behaviour logs
• examples of work
• reports from educational psychologists or therapists

5. Common ADHD Difficulties Schools Must Consider

Support should address things like:

• inability to stay seated
• impulsive behaviour
• difficulty completing work
• emotional outbursts
• executive function problems (organisation, starting tasks)

Schools cannot simply treat this as "bad behaviour."

If a child with ADHD is being sent home repeatedly for behaviour, this is a significant warning sign that the school may not be following the correct SEN procedures.

Children with ADHD often struggle with:

• impulsive behaviour
• emotional regulation
• frustration and meltdowns
• difficulty following instructions

Schools are expected to support these needs, not simply remove the child from school.

1. Sending a Child Home Informally Is Usually Unlawful

Schools cannot repeatedly send a child home unless it is a formal exclusion.

Under the Education Act 2002 and national exclusion guidance, there are only two lawful exclusions:

• Fixed-term suspension
• Permanent exclusion

If the school calls you to collect your child without issuing a formal suspension, this is commonly called an "informal" or "unofficial" exclusion, which government guidance says should not happen.

2. Behaviour Caused by SEN Must Be Considered

If behaviour is linked to special educational needs, the school should first consider support under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice. This usually means:

• a behaviour support plan
• SEN Support through the SENCO
• adjustments to teaching or environment
• possible involvement of specialists

3. If Behaviour Is Severe, the School Should Trigger More Support

Repeated behaviour incidents should normally lead to escalation such as:

• involvement of the SENCO
• an early help assessment
• referrals to behaviour support services
• consideration of an Education, Health and Care Plan

4. What Parents Can Do Now

Practical steps:

1. Ask the school in writing why your child is being sent home.
2. Ask whether these were formal suspensions.
3. Request a meeting with the SENCO.
4. Ask what SEN support plan is in place for ADHD.
5. Consider requesting an EHC needs assessment from your local authority.

5. Things Schools Should Not Do

Schools should not:

• repeatedly send a child home without recording exclusions
• treat ADHD behaviour purely as misconduct
• refuse SEN support because behaviour is difficult

Hi, I'm the SEND Parents Help assistant. I'm an AI, so it's always good to double-check important details, but I'll guide you through the options.

If your child has ADHD, the school still has a duty to support them, even if they say resources are limited.

Can you tell me what kind of problems you're seeing at school right now? For example behaviour issues, work not being adapted, or the school refusing extra help.

That sounds really stressful. Many parents run into this with ADHD.

According to the SEND exclusions guidance, schools are not allowed to regularly send a child home just to "cool off." This is called an informal exclusion, and the guidance says these are unlawful even if the school and parents agree.

A couple of quick things that often help:

• Ask the school to put in writing every time they send your child home
• Request a SEND review meeting
• Ask the council for an EHCP assessment