Introduction
In 2023, a petition aimed to make teacher training in ADHD and autism mandatory. But it went largely unnoticed, gathering only around 1,600 signatures—far short of the amount required to bring it before parliament. The lack of attention reflects a greater issue: many people remain unaware of the significance of ADHD and neurodiversity in educational settings. While teachers face countless responsibilities and undergo substantial training, specific ADHD training could help transform educational outcomes for students with ADHD.
Teachers have an enormous impact on children’s lives and futures, shaping not only academic success but emotional resilience and self-worth. Understanding ADHD offers tools to support these students more effectively, encouraging their strengths and addressing unique challenges. Here, we’ll explore the need for targeted ADHD training and the benefits it offers to teachers, students, and the entire school environment.
The Knowledge Gap
A 2018 article in SEN noted that 42% of teachers had no formal training on ADHD. While progress may have been made since then, even those with some training often receive only basic, generalised information as part of broader neurodivergence instruction. A more detailed, condition-specific approach is needed, as ADHD affects students in ways that often differ from other neurodivergent conditions.
When teachers are unfamiliar with the specific characteristics and needs of ADHD students, it impacts everyone—students, teachers, and parents alike. Comprehensive ADHD training can bridge this knowledge gap, helping teachers develop strategies to support ADHD students more effectively, ultimately improving their educational and social outcomes.
Understanding ADHD: How It Impacts Children in Schools
ADHD manifests differently in each child, but certain challenges are common. Compared to their peers, children with ADHD are more likely to:
- Face bullying at school
- Be at risk for the “school to prison pipeline”
- Develop mental health conditions like anxiety and depression
- Experience higher rates of suicidal thoughts in adulthood
- Drop out of higher education
- Struggle with job stability as adults
- Underachieve academically and professionally
These outcomes are not inevitable. With the right understanding and support, teachers can play a pivotal role in helping students with ADHD build skills, confidence, and resilience, helping them reach their potential. Early identification and ADHD-specific support can alter life trajectories for these students, making ADHD training for teachers a valuable investment.
The Impact of ADHD Training for Teachers
Teachers who understand ADHD will know how to approach students impacted by it, helping them adjust their methods and provide support tailored to each student’s needs. Training allows teachers to:
- Recognize ADHD as a Different Way of Thinking
ADHD extends beyond attention issues; it includes unique cognitive traits that can be strengths, especially when nurtured in the right environment. With ADHD training, teachers can help students see these traits positively, learning about their potential for success. - Highlight Strengths
ADHD is associated with qualities such as creativity, unique problem-solving, and innovative thinking. Teachers trained in ADHD can identify and celebrate these strengths, showing students how to harness them for academic and personal success. - Guide Students Toward Career Success
By understanding ADHD, teachers can guide students in discovering interests and strengths, even in fields that may suit their cognitive style particularly well. Suggested fields include: Creative roles, marketing, entrepreneurship, emergency services, sports-based jobs, and careers in technology. - Provide Hope
Teachers can show students how there are successful people with ADHD, including entrepreneurs, Nobel prize winners, Olympic athletes, and more. They will be able to tell the students that their ADHD doesn’t have to hold them back in life, the strengths from mean they can achieve anything that anyone else can… they may just have to do it a little differently, and that’s okay.
Conclusion
While teachers already have an extensive list of responsibilities, specific ADHD training equips them with tools to make a profound difference for students with ADHD. Training helps teachers to better understand ADHD as a unique cognitive style, enabling them to support students in developing skills, achieving goals, and building confidence. By embracing ADHD-specific training, teachers are empowered to unlock the potential within every ADHD student, guiding them toward a brighter and more successful future.
The ADHDworking ADHD course for teachers and SEN staff will arm educators with the knowledge required to understand what makes children with ADHD different, how to communicate with them differently, and how to give them hope for their futures as adults with ADHD.
