ADHD: how to prepare for starting secondary school with this condition?
The move to secondary school is often a difficult stage for children with ADHD. There are many changes: several teachers, different classrooms every hour, more independent organisation. With good preparation, this transition can go much more smoothly.
Starting administrative procedures in Year 6
Administrative preparation should begin in Year 6. Make sure the PAP is up to date with a recent diagnosis and that it can be sent to the secondary school before the start of Year 7. Contact the future school in spring to meet the disability officer or the school doctor and send the documents. Do not wait until September: procedures can take several weeks, and the child should not start secondary school without their adjustments in place.
Preparing the child for secondary school organisation
The organisational independence required at secondary school is considerably greater than at primary school, and this is precisely the weak point of the ADHD profile. Practise in advance the organisational skills that will be required: keeping a planner, preparing their bag according to the timetable, anticipating appointments. Digital tools such as a planner with automatic reminders should be mastered before the start of term and included in the PAP.
Visiting the school before the start of term
For a child with ADHD, novelty is an additional source of stress that uses up already limited cognitive resources. Visiting the school before the start of term, getting to know the layout of the classrooms, locating the canteen and the toilets, significantly reduces adjustment anxiety in September. Some schools offer taster days for future Year 7 pupils: taking part is particularly beneficial for children with ADHD.
Maintaining therapeutic follow-up
The start of secondary school is a period of transition that can destabilise a child with ADHD, even one who is well stabilised. Maintaining medical and psychological follow-up in place is essential during this period. If the child is on medication, do not interrupt it during the transition without medical advice. And if difficulties intensify during the first months of secondary school, do not wait for them to worsen before consulting the specialist who follows the child. For resources on supporting children with ADHD at secondary school, lesdys.fr offers up-to-date practical guides.
