Nip in the Bud Podcast - ADHD and ADD, a conversation with education professional Lisa Tills

Nip in the Bud® Podcast - The children's mental health health charity

In today's episode, we talk about supporting children with Special educational needs with a focus on ADHD and ADD with Lisa Tills. Lisa has worked in primary schools supporting and educating children for over 20 years.

She has been a teaching assistant, a higher level teaching assistant, a tutor and a supervisor. In her time in schools she has taught whole classes, as well as intervention strategies to groups and 1-2-1 sessions with individual children. She has taught all subjects on the curriculum but has particularly enjoyed her time supporting children who may be struggling within the education system and need extra nurture, care and targeted attention to be happy and confident in school in order to reach their full potential.

Lisa is also a mother of a son who has ADHD. Her son is now in his early 30s so as a family they have come through the UK school system at a time when not much was known about neurodivergent conditions.

ADHD, or Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, can present in many ways in children, which can sometimes make it difficult for teachers and parents to spot the signs. It is characterised by difficulties in the areas of attention, level of activity and impulse control.

This is a fantastic episode for support staff in schools in particular, it will give you ideas and confidence to be the ears and eyes on the ground for the children you support and care for.

She talks about the importance of pre-teaching, building relationships and allowing children to have a voice, feel safe and really understand what is going on. She works hard to ensure the children she works with feel valued and individual.

As a mother she shares her belief that academic success is not everything. It is key to also teach functional skills and social skills because as an adult these are vital for building relationships and organising your life.

She talks about the need to have resources ready and an effective learning environment. Also accessible work and good communication between support staff and the teacher they work with.

Nip in the Bud - Where to get help

https://nipinthebud.org/where-to-get-help/

Chapter

1. Nip in the Bud Podcast - ADHD and ADD, a conversation with education professional Lisa Tills (00:00:00)

2. Lisa's background and journey (00:03:08)

3. How school's might support children with SEND (00:04:36)

4. Advice on how to create an accessible classroom (00:06:48)

5. Checking in with a child to create relationships (00:08:21)

6. The importance of mutual trust (00:13:09)

7. Challenges you face as a parent of a child with ADD (00:15:30)

8. How might you recognise a child with ADD? (00:16:00)

9. What can you do to support a child with ADD? (00:18:05)

10. Further ideas for schools to support children with ADD (00:27:43)

11. The importance of valuing the child (00:34:50)

12. Partnerships and communication (00:36:34)