London experts share how to tackle back to school transitions with your neurodivergent children

Speech Therapist Louise Lawrence and Clinical Psychologist Dr Rebecca Varrall, co-founders of London-based Neurodiversity Unravelled which supports families and individuals in navigating neurodivergent conditions, share their top tips to tackle this tricky transition.

With over a million London children heading back to school this week, some of those with autism or ADHD may find the change of setting and environment more difficult. But there are things you can do to support your child as they return to the classroom. Dr Rebecca Varrall and Louise Lawrence are on hand to offer advice...

Tackle sleep to help children arrive at school rested.

We see and support lots of parents of neurodivergent children who are struggling with poor sleep routine after the holidays-it's a busy time, children are all out of routine with late nights and excitement so trying to regain normality is hard. Neurodivergent children in particular need sleep consistency so it's all about understanding their unique needs to make sure they're fully rested for school.

One thing you can do is to establish a consistent schedule with fixed bedtime and wake-up time (even on weekends), this helps regulate their internal clock. Think too about your timings for dinner and breakfast so these begin to fit in with timings of school routine.

Create a predictable bedtime routine with using visual schedules to break down their sleep routine (such as having a bath, having a bedtime story) or charts breaking things into small steps, where possible include children this plan and routine so they have a sense of control. Make relaxation techniques a part of this routine, such as gentle stretches, yoga and bedtime stories. These will help improve your child's sleep.

Use visuals in your preparations

⁠Visuals can really help manage the transition. Create a visual timetable and key information about the ending of the holidays in the calenda. Then, it's worth having timetables in the kitchen, and their bedroom so your child can see what is happening across the week and what's happening at school. If there's anxiety around returning to school, using social stories can really help with this. Work with school to have a visual timetable of the school day on hand for them.

Talk to school

Taking a proactive approach will have a positive impact on your child's start to the new term so communicating with school is key. Give school a heads up about things that have gone well over the break and trigger points you have encountered.

Be consistent-but take it a day at a time.

Remember consistently is key for autistic individuals, but in the same way be flexible where possible. We all have our good days and bad days and we all know the return from Christmas is hard for us all to get back into the rhythm, so be patient and take it one day at a time.

Remember children may mask at school

Autistic girls who mask may internalise their struggles, leading to high levels of stress and anxiety. This internalised pressure can increase the risk of mental health issues such as emotional meltdowns or outbursts. Regular check-ins, both at home and school, can help identify any struggles they may be masking.

For more information on autism or ADHD, it's important to consult your GP or another medical professional.

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