Presentation 

ADHD pupils are often creative problem-solvers who bring unique perspectives and deep focus to their special interests. However, they struggle with executive functioning and self-regulation, which can make starting tasks feel overwhelming and disorganising. Their energy levels may shift quickly between hyperactive fidgeting and zoning out.  At Brookland we recognise that a pupil's impulsive, intense emotional reactions should not be treated as bad behaviour, rather a need which needs inclusive strategies and adaptations. To succeed, they need structured support to help them organise their thoughts, manage group work, and channel their energy productively.

 

 

 

Tier 1: Ordinary and Available Provision

Environment & Routine

• Calm spaces: Low-arousal, decluttered rooms.
• Structure: Predictable routines, visual timetables, and timers.
• Break times: Structured lunchtime provision, lunchtime clubs and sports clubs.
• Timers: to encourage task completion and focus

Communication & Teaching

• Clarity: Simple, direct instructions and visual aids.
• Tone: Calm delivery, positive language, and frequent praise.
• Support: Scaffolding tasks to avoid cognitive overload.
• Peer support: Having peers repeat instructions back to each other.

Regulation

• Tools: Zones of Regulation (see wellbeing page), scaling the "Size of the Problem."
• Fidget/Sensory tools: an agreed sensory tool to aid focus
• Resistance bands: to 
• Breaks: Scheduled movement breaks and free play.
• Staff support: Consistent boundaries, 1:1 time, and adult check-ins.
• Motivation: Structured reward systems.

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Tier 2: Targeted Interventions

Task Engagement & Learning

• Pre-teach interventions: Previewing learning before the lesson.
• In-task checklist: Visual checklists to track step-by-step progress.
• Now/Next boards: Simple, immediate transition cues.

Sensory & Regulation

• Sensory circuits (2 x per day am and pm): Guided physical exercises to alertness or calm.
• Sensory break cards to use in lessons
• Social Skills Groups: working with peers and an adult to develop social interactions
• Lego therapy: a specific social and communication intervention
• Personalised Zones chart: Individualised tool for emotional checking ins.
• Praise books: wellbeing check in record to highlight successes and achievement
• Low arousal room/sensory room
• Mentoring with a trusted adult

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Tier 3: Specific Individual Interventions

• Counselling​​ and mentoring: arranged with our wellbeing lead and SENCO ​​

• Personalised timetable: an agreed adapted timetable with possible sensory adaptations 

• Personalised behaviour plans: identified rewards and targets shared with staff​​ 

Practical Tools and Resources

• In task checklist ​

• Fidget/sensory tools ​

• Resistance bands​

• Resources for sensory circuits​

• Timers​

• Now and next boards

Signposting and Support for parents:

• https://www.barnet.gov.uk/children-and-families/support-parents-and-carers/adhd-support-parents-and-carers​

• https://www.barnetmencap.org.uk/what-we-offer/children-and-family/0-25-advice-support/​

• https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/communication-resources/index.html​

• https://www.cambslearntogether.co.uk/cambridgeshire-send/cambridgeshire-send-oap-toolkits/primary-and-secondary-send-oap-toolkit/cognition-and-learning/adhd/resources

Presentation

At Brookland Junior, we are committed to helping our autistic pupils thrive by supporting their unique communication, sensory, and learning needs. Key Stage 2 introduces bigger classroom demands, so we use clear language, visual timetables, and structured routines to reduce anxiety and prevent cognitive overload. We understand that behaviours like stimming, movement, or task refusal are often expressions of sensory overwhelm or stress. By working closely with families, we provide a safe, predictable environment where every child feels understood, organised, and ready to learn.

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Tier 1: Ordinarily Available Provision

• Environmental Adjustments: Quiet spaces, low-arousal areas, visual timetables, consistent timetables, and considered use of display/resource colours. 
• Adaptive Teaching: Scaffolded tasks, modelling, adaptive teaching methods, and technology like laptops, iPads, audiobooks, and Widgit symbols.
• Whole-Class Regulation: Zones of Regulation, Mindfulness, 5-Point Scale ("Size of the Problem"), and teaching pupils to identify when they need a break. 
• Social & Community: Supportive peers, school clubs, classroom jobs, and general responsibilities.
• Routine Motivation: Standard reward charts, stickers, in-task checklists, visual timers, and sand timers.

Tier 2: Targeted Interventions

• Social & Emotional Interventions: Lego Therapy, social skills groups, social stories and lunchtime clubs.
• Academic interventions: Focused pre-teaching of vocabulary or concepts before lessons.
• Sensory & Physical Support: Planned sensory breaks, structured sensory circuits, and targeted sensory tools (e.g., ear defenders, wobble cushions).
• Communication & Predictability: Individual "Now and Next" boards, in class checklist
• Home-School Links: Regular parental communication and regular check-ins with a designated key adult.

Specific Individual Interventions

• Specialist Therapy: 1-to-1 counselling, play therapy, and Occupational Therapy (OT) advised tools.
• Allocated TA support: 1-to-1 staff support (in class or on playground)and access to a specialist sensory room.
• Technology: Access as needed to laptops, iPads and specialist hardware such as C-Pens (scanning pens) to support learning.
• Personalised Rewards and praise: Individualised proud books, bespoke daily reward charts, and formal home-school communication books.

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Practical Tools and Resources

• sensory tools
• Now and next boards
• in-class checklist
• visual timetables
• Zones of Regulation chart
• sensory room
• low arousal room
• access to technology
• reward/praise charts
• resistance bands
• Widgit - symbols based online program
• Social stories

Signposting and Support for parents

• https://www.autismtoolbox.co.uk/ ​

• https://www.resourcesforautism.org.uk/ ​

• https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/welsh-peer-support-groups/toolkit ​

• https://www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/about/useful-autism-resources-and-training/ ​

• https://www.autismcentral.org.uk/ ​

• https://adhdandautism.org/ ​

• https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance ​

• https://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/resources/aet-schools-standards-framework ​

• https://daisychainproject.co.uk/ ​

• https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/services/i-am-a-parent-carer/parent-toolkit ​

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/support/

Presentation

As children transition into Key Stage 2, the physical demands of the curriculum increase significantly. Developing the finger strength, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination required for daily tasks can be challenging. Signs may include awkward pencil grip, poor handwriting control, or difficulty using classroom tools like scissors. As writing or cutting can cause physical fatigue and discomfort, these capable children may become anxious, frustrated, or actively avoid subjects like art and literacy. Learners facing these challenges are often highly creative, intelligent, and articulate, possessing brilliant ideas and excellent verbal skills that far exceed what they can comfortably produce on paper.

 

Tier 1: Ordinary and Available Provision

 

• Pencil grips: Providing ergonomic or chunky triangular grips on all writing tools.
• Writing slopes: Using angled desks or binders to support wrist extension.
• Reducing copying from the board: Providing desktop printouts or pre-filled cloze procedures.
• Regular movement breaks: Whole-class physical resets to combat physical fatigue.
• Putty, playdough, and threading: Soft continuous motor practice available at continuous provision or registration.
• Smaller boards and writing frames: Limiting the required spatial layout to reduce cognitive and physical overwhelm.
• Visual checklists and templates: Clear, broken-down steps for writing tasks.
• Alternative recording options: Allowing verbal answers, typing, or dictation for specific tasks. 

Tier 2: Targeted Interventions

• Fine motor skills group: Focused sessions focusing on finger isolated movements and grip.
• Handwriting practice: Structured, short bursts of explicit letter-formation teaching (Debbie Hepplewhite scheme - see below for workbooks).
• Hand strengthening exercises: Targeted resistance work using therapeutic putty, elastic bands, and pegboards.
• Pre-teaching Art and DT skills: Small group practice with scissors, glue sticks, or tools the day before a main lesson.
• Lego Therapy: Structured group play to build precise finger strength, coordination, and communication skills.
• Sensory circuits:  to alert and calm the body before learning.
• Barnet Toolkit resources: guidance from regional toolkit (see link below).

Tier 3: Specific Individual Interventions

• Individual occupational therapy (OT): Executing precise exercises prescribed directly by an OT. Depending on availability from Barnet Local Authority.
• Technology : laptop, speech-to-text software.
• Scribing: Having an adult write down the student’s responses in exams.

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Practical Tools and Resources

• peg boards and pegs
• tweezers
• theraputty
• pencil grips
• handwriting slopes
• threading

 

Signposting and Support for parents

• Dyspraxia Foundation – https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/ •​

• The Sensory Projects – https://thesensoryprojects.co.uk/ •​

• Royal College of Occupational Therapists – https://www.rcot.co.uk/ •​

• Youth Sport Trust – https://www.youthsporttrust.org/​

• https://www.barnetlocaloffer.org.uk/senco_zone/documents/2106-motor-skills-toolkit

Presentation

Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body that enable core stability, balance, and coordinated movement. Some children experience developmental coordination challenges that affect their physical confidence and participation in daily school activities. In PE lessons and playground games, this may present as difficulties with foundational balance skills like jumping, hopping, or skipping, as well as trouble throwing, catching, or kicking a ball.

Children with these difficulties often struggle with spatial awareness, changing direction quickly, and sequencing complex movements required for dance and gymnastics. Physically, they may present with a slouched posture, appear clumsy, or seem restless and fidgety at their desks due to weak core muscles. Children may become reluctant to join in PE, avoid difficult tasks, struggle in team games, and experience low confidence.

Identifying these signs early allows us to provide targeted, supportive interventions to help every child build strength, coordination, and confidence.

Tier 1: Ordinary and available provision

• Daily playground opportunities for running, jumping, and skipping
• Throwing, catching, and kicking playground games (use of playground games monitors).
• Visual prompts and step-by-step adult modelling of physical movements in PE lessons.
• Peer buddies to support and encourage participation in PE.
• Supportive seating position to help with restlessness.
• Sensory movement cards

Tier 2: Targeted Interventions

• Sensory circuits twice a day
• Targeted obstacle courses to improve balance and spatial awareness.
• Adaptations in PE: such as larger, softer balls; adaptation of space; batting tees; larger rackets; peer support.
• Use of wobble cushions to improve core balance and strength.
• Structured swimming sessions focusing on coordination.

Tier 3: Specific Individual Interventions

• Personalised sensory breaks tailored to an individual child's needs.
• One-to-one adult support during PE.
• Break down physical sequences step-by-step.
• Specialist workstation seating adjustments to support slouched posture.
• OT support if available from Barnet Local Authority

Practical Tools and Resources

• Balance boards
• Wobble cushions
• Resistance Bands
• Access to PE resources

Signposting and Support for parents

• Dyspraxia Foundation – https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/ •​

• The Sensory Projects – https://thesensoryprojects.co.uk/ •​

•  Royal College of Occupational Therapists – https://www.rcot.co.uk/ •​

• Youth Sport Trust – https://www.youthsporttrust.org/​

• https://www.barnetlocaloffer.org.uk/senco_zone/documents/2106-motor-skills-toolkit