If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD she or he will most likely have problems at school. ADHD can have a negative effect on how well a child does at school.
If you are concerned that your child is not benefiting from the education being provided by his/her school – you should discuss your concerns with your child's class teacher, tutor, Year Head and the School Principal.
The Principal and teacher should support you in identifying if your child would benefit from an Educational Assessment and an Individual Education Plan (IEP).
An Education Plan is an agreed and documented education programme which considers the strengths and weaknesses of the student. It should target specific areas for educational improvement while at the same time building on the strengths of the student. It should be collaboratively developed, implementederiodically assessed. Before an Education Plan is set in place, and Education Assessment should be carried out.
The School Principal or a parent/guardian can request an educational assessment form their Special Education Needs Officer (SENO) or Neps (National Educational Psychological Service).
What should the assessment determine?
An assessment should include an evaluation and statement of the nature and extent of the child's disability… and an evaluation and statement of the services which the child will need so as to be able to participate in and benefit from education and, generally, to develop his or her potential.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides for the assessment of school going children. Each school is assigned a psychologist by NEPS. The assessment should be carried out with the assistance of people with appropriate expertise and qualifications (as deemed by the Council or health board). This may include a psychologist, medical practitioner, the principal or designated teacher, social worker, or a therapist suitably qualified to provide support services in relation to the child's special education need. The participation of parents should be facilitated by, 'as appropriate', the health board, Council or principal. CAMHS can also carry out an assessment. A statement of the findings of the assessment should be made available to the parents.
Firstly the assessment report should show what support services should be put in place and this should be processed by the local SENO (Special Education Needs Organiser).
Schools should support children with special educational needs through the existing mechanisms or the school may apply to the NCSE (The National Council for Special Education) for additional special educational needs resources for the pupil in the context of the criteria outlined in current circulars. These include resource teaching hours, SNA (Special Needs Assistant ) etc. Applications for resources are processed by Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO's) and these are the local point of contact for parents and schools.
Unfortunately services are mandated by legislation only insofar as resources exist. This means that they tend to not always be common practice.
Where the assessment shows that a special education need exists an individual educational plan (IEP) should also be drawn up and put in place.
Hadd's Resource for Teachers : ADHD and Education gives advice which would be useful for parents and teachers on drawing up and implementing IEPs for students with ADHD.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has produced guidelines on the Individual Education Plan Process and this is available to download from their website http://www.ncse.ie/uploads/1/final_report.pdf or from the Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.
Parent / teacher collaboration is vital for success in supporting your child and helping them achieve their potential. It is most likely that your teacher, who has been struggling with your child's difficulties, will welcome your intervention. Communication between parents and teachers is necessary to ensure that class room management and home management are consistent and support each other. Structure and consistency are vital.
Our section on Tips for students on ADHD and Studying may be a help to your child.
See also our section on supplementary admissions route to, and supports at, 3rd level.